Ranking the 5 longest-serving players at Manchester United

Manchester United are one of the most successful clubs in English top-flight history. The 13-time Premier League winners are also one of a handful of clubs to have won multiple UEFA Champions League titles.

United haven't won a league title in almost a decade and no silverware since their 2017 Europa League triumph, though.

Considering their rich history and pedigree, it's no surprise that many fine players have turned out for the club over the years.

The current Red Devils squad also has a decent blend of youth and experience. Some of these players have been at Old Trafford for a while. On that note, here's a look at the five longest-serving players at Manchester United at the moment:

#5 Marcus Rashford - 6 years, 5 months

Marcus Rashford has been with United for more than six years.

Marcus Rashford is one of United's best home-grown players. Still only 24, the winger has racked up almost 300 appearances for the club, bagging 93 strikes across competitions.

Although he has struck just five times this season, the Englishman netted a 90th-minute winner to create history. It was his fourth such strike in Premier League history, twice as many as any other Manchester United player.

Rashford has been at Old Trafford since the 2015-16 campaign. The then-teenager scored an impressive eight times and also bagged three assists for United that season.

#4 Luke Shaw - 7 years, 7 months

Luke Shaw is one of the best full-backs in the Premier League at the moment. The Manchester United left-back has made over 200 appearances for the club since his debut in 2014-15.

The 26-year-old has had injury woes, but when fit, he is a real asset to the team. Although Shaw has scored just thrice for the club, his runs up field down the flanks lend an extra dimension to United's attack. He has bagged 21 assists thus far, and has also scored thrice.

The Southampton academy product hasn't scored this season, but has laid out four assists across competitions.

#3 Juan Mata - 8 years

Juan Mata has been at Old Trafford for almost a decade.

Juan Mata has been at Manchester United for almost a decade. Since arriving at Old Trafford from Chelsea in January 2014, the 33-year-old has racked up nearly 300 appearances for the club.

However, Mata has become a fringe player at Old Trafford, having made only three appearances this season, with none coming in the Premier League. Currently in the final few months of his contract, the diminutive playmaker is all set to leave the club as a free agent in the summer.

During his stint with the Premier League giants, the Spain international has bagged nearly 100 goal contributions (51 goals, 47 assists). However, only six of them (three goals, three assists) have come since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

#2 David de Gea - 10 years, 7 months

David de Gea has been at Old Trafford for more than a decade.

David de Gea has been a standout performer for United since arriving from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011.

The 31-year-old custodian is one of a handful of players to have won the Premier League (2012-13) with the Old Trafford club. In nearly 500 appearances for the club across competitions, De Gea has racked up an impressive 162 assists.

Towards the end of last season, the Spaniard seemed to be on his way out of the club after a series of error-prone performances. However, De Gea has bounced back strongly and is currently the undisputed number one at Old Trafford.

In January this year, he won his first 'Premier League Player of the Month' award. The Spaniard made the most saves by any goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues during the month.

With his current contract expiring next summer, United are reportedly mulling offering their long-serving custodian a new deal. He has been one of the few shining lights in an otherwise dismal campaign for the team.

#1 Phil Jones - 10 years, 7 months

Phil Jones has been at Old Trafford for more than ten years.

Phil Jones, like De Gea, is the only other Manchester United player to win the club's last Premier League title in 2012-13.

Unlike his teammate, though, the 29-year-old Jones has had a stop-start stint at Old Trafford. Long-term injuries have limited him to only 226 appearances at the club since arriving in the summer of 2011.

Recently, the English defender made his first appearance for the club in two years. He has played only two games this season, and is widely expected to leave when his contract expires next summer.

Manchester United could offload the veteran defender even before that if they receive a suitable offer this summer.

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 20 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by S Chowdhury