Donny van de Beek has emerged Manchester United's first signing of the summer in a £40million transfer from Ajax.
The 23-year-old joins the Old Trafford club on a five-year deal with the option of an extra 12 months.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side won the race to sign Van de Beek after Premier League rivals Tottenham failed with an 11th-hour bid.
The Dutch midfielder, who starred in Ajax's thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, was also wanted by Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But he was swayed by a charm offensive from Solskjaer, having told friends in Amsterdam that the manager's determination to sign him was the key factor in his decision.
He said: “I cannot begin to explain how incredible an opportunity it is to join a club with such an amazing history. I would like to thank everyone at Ajax, I grew up there and I will always have a special bond with the club.
“I am now ready to take the next step in my career and perform at the highest level and there is no higher standard than Manchester United.
“Everyone has told me how amazing the Old Trafford atmosphere is and I am looking forward to experiencing that, once it is safe for the fans to return.
“This team has some of the best midfielders in the world and I know that I can learn from them and also bring my own strengths to the group.
“Having spoken to the manager about his vision for this team, the direction that the club is going in is hugely exciting and I cannot wait to be a part of that.”
Solskjaer added: “Donny has all of the technical attributes needed to perform in this team and has the personality required to succeed at Manchester United.
“His ability to see space, time his movements and read the game will really complement the qualities that we have in midfield and his arrival really strengthens the depth of talent we have in that position.
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“Donny’s performances in the Eredivisie and in Europe have been excellent over the last few years and we are all looking forward to working with him.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
