Crystal Palace officially sign former Manchester United defender

The managerial saga at Old Trafford remains a tricky scenario for Manchester United fans as the club navigates yet another period of uncertainty.

Following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim on January 5, 2026, a move that pushed United’s total severance spending past the staggering £98 million mark since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

For now, Darren Fletcher serves as the caretaker, having stepped up from his coaching role to stabilise a team currently sitting in 7th place after a 2-2 draw with Burnley.

While club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been heavily linked with a sensational interim return to guide the squad until the end of the season, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner remains the frontrunner for the permanent post.

Glasner, who recently led Palace to their first-ever FA Cup, has been evasive about the links, but with United desperate to claw back into the top six, the pressure is on to find a leader who can break the cycle of expensive exits.

As the men’s side focuses on structural upheaval, the Women’s team also has one of their stalwarts in recent times join another club.

Crystal Palace Women have announced the official signing of Wales international Hayley Ladd on their website.

Hayley Ladd was a foundational piece of the United Women’s project, arriving in the summer of 2019 from Birmingham City.

Over a distinguished six-season stay, Ladd became only the sixth player in the club’s history to reach 110 appearances, recording 12 goals from her versatile roles in defense and midfield.

She was voted the United Women’s Player of the Season for 2019/20 and famously scored the winning goal against Manchester City in May 2023 to secure United’s first-ever Champions League qualification.

After helping the team lift the 2024 Women’s FA Cup at Wembley, she brought her time as a Red to a close in January 2025, moving to Everton.

Ladd is the Wales vice-captain and currently stands as the fourth-most capped player in their history with 111 senior appearances.

Reflecting on her move to Palace, Ladd said, “Yeah, it feels amazing. I’m so glad to be here. It’s obviously a club that I’ve admired for a long time, so I’m thrilled to be here and ready to get started.”