Louis van Gaal's first Man Utd signing has seen value plummet since £29m move (2024)

Louis van Gaal's first signing at Manchester United, Ander Herrera, was secured with a hefty price tag of £29 million - but that is a big difference from the midfielder's current market value a decade later.

Van Gaal, taking the managerial reins after Ryan Giggs' temporary leadership following David Moyes' departure, aimed to restore the glory of the Red Devils. This goal was to be achieved by fortifying various segments of the squad with new talent.

His inaugural buy, Spaniard Herrera from Athletic Bilbao, bore a hefty transfer fee. As we look back on this business transaction a decade later, Herrera's market rate has experienced a considerable downturn, with TransferMarkt now appraising the midfielder's worth at just £2.5 million.

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The rejection of United's initial bid for the then-24-year-old by Bilbao led to Herrera triggering a contract clause enabling his move to the Mancunian club, reports the Mirror.

Delighted to pledge his allegiance to his dream team, Herrera said at the time: "Signing for Manchester United is a dream come true. I have joined United to do all I can to help the team reach the club's objectives. Having arrived on Tuesday, I'm excited to now be living in Manchester and I can't wait for my first game in United's famous red shirt."

United had earmarked the Spanish midfielder for a move after his performance caught the higher-ups' attention during a Europa League burly between Athletic Bilbao and United in 2012. Against all odds, La Liga club Bilbao overcame the Red Devils with a shock 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in the first leg of the Round of 16 in the Europa League.

This triumphant streak continued back home as Bilbao bagged a 2-1 win in the second leg, leading to an unforeseen elimination of the European powerhouses from the contest. Herrera shined bright as a notable contributor in this valiant Bilbao team, driving Van Gaal to be resolute about acquiring the young midfield maestro.

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The midfielder notched up 189 appearances for Manchester United, netting 20 times and setting up a total of 27 goals. In an announcement made in 2019, United declared that Herrera would bring down the curtain on his time at the club as the 2018/19 season ended.

The virtuoso boasted an array of accolades to his name, which included the prestigious Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year title in 2017, alongside his team's triumphs in the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League. Upon parting ways, Herrera ebulliently expressed: "Playing for the greatest club in England has been a true honour. Every time I represented this club, in every game, in wins and losses, even when I couldn't help from the grass, I understood what this club means."

Post United, he took up the midfield at Paris Saint-Germain via a free transfer, followed by a loan spell at his boyhood club, Athletic Bilbao, in 2022. The story came full circle as he finally returned to Bilbao during the January transfer window the previous year, thus making it a heartening homecoming to where it all began.

Herrera, now 34, has seen his transfer worth drop dramatically over the years with United and PSG, and is now worth just £2.5 million according to TransferMarkt - a long shot from his £29 million valuation back in 2014.

Herrera has made 23 appearances in La Liga in the 2023/24 season, assisting three goals and not scoring once. His last starting place for Bilbao came in a 2-0 league win against Sevilla on May 19, having been benched for the final game of the season.

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