News
Manchester United Confirms Signings Of Matthijs De Ligt And Noussair Mazraoui
Manchester United have announced the signings of defensive duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.
Dutch international De Ligt has agreed to a four-year contract with the option to extend for an additional year.
Manchester United paid an initial fee of £38.5m, along with potential add-ons of up to £4.3m, for the center who served as Ajax’s captain during Erik Ten Hag’s time at the club.
Morocco’s Mazraoui, who will cost £12.8m with an additional £43m in potential add-ons, is primarily a right-back but might be asked to step in at left-back due to Luke Shaw’s calf injury, which will keep him out of the three games of the Premier League season.
The United manager, Erik ten Hag, had made it plain to the board that he needed to reinforce his squad after last season was blighted by injuries. And the coach has had his wishes granted with De Ligt and Mazraoui swelling his options.
The double transfer boost, totaling just shy of £60 million, was announced on the day that Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s departure to West Ham for a £15m fee was confirmed.
The Netherlands defender, De Ligt, is reunited with Ten Hag, whom he played under at Ajax, after agreeing a five-year contract with the option of another year.
De Ligt, who has won league titles with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern, said “As soon as I heard that Manchester United wanted me, I felt an excitement about the opportunity of a new challenge at such an historic club.
“In the conversations that followed, I was impressed by the vision that the football leadership set out, and the role they saw for me in it,” the 25-year-old added.
“Erik shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club.”
De Ligt will strengthen United’s central defense after Raphaël Varane’s departure.
Meanwhile, fellow summer signing Leny Yoro is anticipated to be sidelined for three months due to a foot injury he suffered in pre-season against Arsenal.
The center-back’s transfer is reported to involve an initial fee of £38.5 million, with potential add-ons reaching £4.3 million.
Full-back Mazraoui also played under Ten Hag at Ajax, winning three league titles with the Dutch club and another with Bayern.
The Morocco international has also made 28 appearances for his country and played in the semi-final defeat to France at the 2022 World Cup. His reported fee is £12.8m plus £4.3m in potential add-ons.
Mazraoui, who has signed a four-year deal with the option of a further year, said, “It’s an incredible feeling to be a United player, and I cannot wait to walk out at Old Trafford wearing the red shirt. I know I’m joining the club at an exciting time; everyone I’ve spoken to has the same ambition for us to win trophies together and I can feel the determination to achieve that.”
The new arrivals are set to be available for United’s season-opener against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday night.
However, Luke Shaw will be participating due to a calf injury, which the club has indicated will keep the England full-back sidelined until the international break next.
Shaw will miss United’s Premier League matches at home against Fulham and Liverpool, in addition to the game against Brighton.
The 29-year-old might also be a concern in England’s Nations League games next month against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, which will be the first matches the new interim manager, Lee Carsley.
