Manchester United have announced that Hannibal Mejbri has completed a loan switch to Sevilla.
Having made 21 starts and 17 substitute outings in the Championship for Birmingham City in 2022-23, the 20-year-old was kept in the United senior ranks by Erik ten Hag over the summer.
That is despite the wide array of midfielders that the Dutchman has at his disposal, with the likelihood being that the Tunisia international would remain on the fringes.
In total, Hannibal has been provided with four starts and eight substitute appearances in all competitions, but his most recent outing in the first XI came on November 1 against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup.
The decision has since been taken to allow the youngster to back out on loan in a bid to secure more first-team football for the rest of the season.
🚨⚪️🔴 Hannibal Mejbri has just signed in as new Sevilla player from Manchester United.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 15, 2024
Deal completed. 🇹🇳 pic.twitter.com/FuUcTlwXYU
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United have included a number of clauses in the deal to protect themselves in the event that Hannibal excels in Spain.
Sevilla are said to have the option to sign Hannibal for a €20m (£17.2m) in the summer, although that clause is not mandatory.
Meanwhile, should that option be activated, United will have two years to choose whether they want to activate a €35m (£30.1m) clause to re-sign Hannibal.
A sell-on fee has also been added in the event that Hannibal makes the switch to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on a full-time basis.
© Reuters
Hannibal has been acquired by Sevilla in the hope that he can help kick-start a campaign that has already seen them eliminated from the Champions League.
Quique Sanchez Flores is the latest incumbent in the Sevilla dugout, tasked with trying to move Los Nervionenses up from 17th position in the La Liga standings.
Hannibal is not eligible to feature in the Copa del Rey round-of-16 tie against Getafe that will take place on Tuesday night.
However, he is expected to come into contention for the trip to leaders Girona that is scheduled to be played on January 21.
Darren Plant
