Ex Man Utd defender Eric Bailly set to join Villarreal as free agent after his contract with Turkish side of was terminated

Villarreal Nearing Deal to Secure Free Transfer Signing of Eric Bailly

Spanish club Villarreal is on the verge of finalizing the acquisition of former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly on a free transfer.

This development follows Bailly's recent termination of his contract with Turkish side Beşiktaş, who had excluded him from their squad. The termination led to an agreement between Villarreal and the Ivorian player, a move highly sought after by manager Marcelino.

The imminent transfer is poised to see Bailly filling the defensive gap left by Gabbia, who is close to rejoining AC Milan, according to a report by reportminds.com.

Despite being 29 years old, Bailly wasn't included in the Ivory Coast squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations in 2024. It's noteworthy that Ivory Coast is slated to host the AFCON 2023 in January.