Erik ten Hag’s decision to offload Aaron Wan-Bissaka for £15 million underscores a major misstep by former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Wan-Bissaka, who Crystal Palace named Player of the Season in 2019, moved to United that summer for £50 million. At just 21, the right-back had only made his Premier League debut the previous year. But Solskjaer saw potential for him to develop into one of the top right-backs in the league.
Despite early promise, Wan-Bissaka struggled to justify his hefty price tag at Old Trafford. Now, under Ten Hag, he is set to move to West Ham for less than half of the amount United paid for him.
Wan-Bissaka’s departure is part of a broader strategy, with Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui—who had a successful stint under Ten Hag at Ajax—joining for a reported £17.1 million.
The move in 2019 was notable as Wan-Bissaka became the most expensive uncapped English player at that time. However, recurring illness, injuries, and inconsistent performances hindered his ability to secure a regular starting spot.
Under Ten Hag, Wan-Bissaka featured in 20 games last season but never fully established himself as a first-choice right-back. Solskjaer, who had originally defended Wan-Bissaka during challenging times, praised his defensive skills but acknowledged areas for improvement.
Solskjaer had said, “Aaron is still very young and hasn’t played full back for many years. He came on to the scene at Palace and had exceptional defensive one-against-one skills. There are different aspects to his game he needs to learn and be better at. He knows that. That comes down to what he wants to do every single day.”
Despite these assurances, Wan-Bissaka’s development did not reach the heights anticipated. His imminent move to West Ham for a fraction of his original transfer fee underscores the extent of Solskjaer’s misjudgment regarding the defender’s long-term value to Manchester United.
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