Manchester United confirmed Friday that defender Chris Smalling will join AS Roma on loan for the 2019-20 season.
The deal will cost Roma €3 million, the Italian side announced.
Smalling, 29, leaves United after almost a decade in Manchester, where he helped the club win a pair of Premier League titles, the Europa League, and other major trophies.
Despite Smalling's years of service, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was understood to be open to offers for him once United completed a lucrative transfer to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City for a reported £80-million fee.
Although he's spent his entire career in England, Smalling said he's looking forward to a new challenge in Serie A.
"This is the perfect opportunity for me," he said. "The chance to experience a new league with a big team that has got big aspirations is exactly what I needed.
"Hopefully I can hit the ground running. I'm looking forward to joining up with my teammates."
Smalling is the second United player to depart for Italy in as many days after Alexis Sanchez's temporary move to Inter on Thursday.
