Manchester United has officially confirmed the signings of Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. The deal, which is reported to be worth a combined £60 million ($76.6m) including add-ons, sees the Netherlands centre-back De Ligt signing a five-year contract at Old Trafford and Morocco full-back Mazraoui signing a four-year deal. Both players also have the option to extend their contracts for an additional year.
Both De Ligt and Mazraoui started their youth careers at Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam and eventually played under current United manager Erik ten Hag in the first team. De Ligt, aged 25, has had a successful career, winning the Eredivisie with Ajax, the Serie A title with Juventus, and most recently the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2022-23.
De Ligt expressed his excitement about joining Manchester United, stating, “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.” Mazraoui, on the other hand, discussed his reunion with Erik ten Hag, saying, “Erik ten Hag played an important part in my development as a player, so it is exciting to be reuniting with him as I enter the prime years of my career.”
United’s summer spending has now reached approximately £140m ($180m) with the signings of De Ligt, Mazraoui, striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, and defender Leny Yoro from Lille. The club also recently bid farewell to right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who moved to West Ham for a reported £15 million ($19.2m). De Ligt and Mazraoui’s arrivals come at a crucial time for United, as left back Luke Shaw is set to miss the opening matches of the season due to a calf injury.
According to a statement from the club, Luke Shaw is working on his rehabilitation and aims to return after the first international break. Additionally, French centre-back Leny Yoro is expected to be out for about three months following foot surgery. These injury setbacks highlight the importance of the recent defensive reinforcements made by Manchester United.
Manchester United’s signings of Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt mark a significant strengthening of the team’s defensive capabilities. With a combination of youth and experience, these additions are expected to make a positive impact on the squad as they prepare for the upcoming season. The club’s proactive approach in the transfer market reflects their ambition to compete at the highest level both domestically and in European competitions.
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