Ex-Man United star - who was tipped by Louis van Gaal to be a 'club great' - becomes a free agent after his side were relegated to League One less than 10 years after he left Old Trafford

A former Manchester United academy graduate has been made a free agent by his club after they were relegated to League One. 

It comes eight years after the former defender, who had been backed by ex-United manager Louis van Gaal to be a club 'great', left Old Trafford for pastures new. 

The player also represented England several times at age-grade level but would never earn a call up to the Three Lions senior side.  

Rotherham have endured a tough season in the Championship, finishing rock bottom of the table having amassed a meagre 27 points. 

The Millers finished 18-points behind Huddersfield who finished the season one place above them, having lost 29 games this season, winning five. 

Speculation has been mounting over the futures of several squad members with new boss Steve Evans revealing that around 16 players will depart the AESSEAL New York Stadium over the summer, including the former Man United star. 

Tyler Blackett, 30, is one of 11 players who will be out of contract this summer and will subsequently be leaving the club, having not been offered a new deal. 

The left-back joined the South Yorkshire side in March 2023, after having spent time playing for MLS side FC Cincinnati. 

Blackett played in Rotherham's first 10 games of the season, starting as a centre back, winning just one match - a 2-1 victory against Norwich, and scoring once against Bristol City. Despite that he would fail to make another appearance from October 4 until the end of the season - being named on the bench once. 

He took to Instagram on Monday to write: '#STAYTHECOURSE A frustrating and difficult season on and off the pitch. So much to say and many frustrations...but STILL I enjoyed every minute I played in front of you Millers! Thank you and the support throughout.

'Once you have survived the storm... you have to find out why you went through it!?'

The defender began his professional footballing journey in Man United's academy system, enjoying a loan spells at Blackpool and Birmingham City while learning his craft in the U21s side.

He'd go on to make his senior debut against Swansea City on August 16, 2014, at the age of 20, before going on to make 12 appearances for United. 

Blackett was once tipped by Louis van Gaal to become a club 'great', with the Dutch manager claiming: 'He is another young player that has risen through the Academy system to break into the first-team squad this season.

'Tyler has great potential and I believe he is at the right club to continue his development and progression to become a great defender.'

Blackett also made several appearances in England's age-grade sides, and would eventually leave Man United to join Reading on a permanent deal, after a loan spell with Celtic. 

It was here that he spent the majority of his senior career, making 122 appearances across all competitions for the club. 

Blackett has also opened up on his departure from Old Trafford, claiming that he had made the decision to leave to further his playing career. 

'I wouldn't say it was the hardest decision. It was a selfish decision,' Blackett to The Times. 

'We all have our own aspirations and we have to make decisions not for the team, but for personal reasons. 

'Throughout the years you see players who you think maybe they should have moved on but they stayed at United.

'Every player has got their own aspirations and you have got to take charge of your own career.'

He'll leave Rotherham alongside the likes of former Stoke and Swansea player Sam Clucas, Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos midfielder Cafu and ex-Leeds and Cardiff defender Lee Peltier. 

New manager Evans said on the squad changes: 'There have been some honest and open discussions with players in and out of contract and we have had to make some really difficult decisions, but each one of those has been made with the future of Rotherham United at the forefront of our priorities.

'I’d like to place on-record that everyone in the building has been a pleasure to work with since I walked through the door and those departing the club do so with our very best wishes.

'It is clear that this summer is an important one in terms of recruitment but we are already well-underway with the process and excited about the challenge that lies ahead.'