As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is set to make Premier League history this weekend.
If the goalkeeper starts against Leeds on Sunday, he would break a new record in the English top division.
The Spanish goalkeeper will play more than 400 games for a single Premier League team, making him the first non-British player to accomplish this feat.
🚨🇪🇸 David de Gea will become the FIRST non-British player to make more than 400 Premier League appearances for one club, should he start against Leeds United as expected this weekend. @ManUtdMEN #MUFC
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) February 10, 2023
De Gea will join a group of eight non-British players who have appeared in more than 400 games in the division. However, none of the other players have had their appearances counted at just one club.
De Gea, who has been a pillar of United since his arrival in 2011, will be incredibly proud of the milestone. At the age of 20, De Gea decided to leave his childhood club, Atletico Madrid, for an estimated £20 million to sign for United.
The goalkeeper has proven to be one of United’s better signings in recent memory, performing well on a consistent basis in one of the most watched positions in sports.
Together with Cristiano Ronaldo, De Gea has won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year accolade at the club a club record four times. The Spaniard was lauded as the world’s best goalkeeper during much of his career.
He is also close to breaking a record that goes beyond appearances. De Gea is just two away from tying Peter Schmeichel’s long-standing club record of 180 clean sheets, which presently holds second place on United’s all-time list.
As United attempts to return to winning ways in the Premier League at Elland Road on Sunday, the 32-year-old will be looking to get one step closer to the Great Dane’s total. Meanwhile, De Gea is also negotiating a new contract in order to stay at Old Trafford past the summer, when his current contract is set to expire.
