By signing Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich for £60m, Manchester United set the tone for the season.
United manager Erik ten Hag told the board he needed to strengthen his squad after last season’s injuries. The coach got his desire with De Ligt and Mazraoui improving his choices.
The £15m deal of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham was confirmed on the same day as the double transfer boost for little under £60m.
De Ligt, a former Ajax player, agrees to a five-year contract with an option for another year with Ten Hag.
After winning league titles with Ajax, Juventus, and Bayern, De Ligt said: “When I heard Manchester United wanted me, I felt excited about the opportunity of a new challenge at such a historic club.
“In the conversations that followed, I was impressed by the football leadership’s vision and my role in it,” the 25-year-old said.
Erik helped launch my career, so he knows how to extract the best from me. I can’t wait to work with him again. I know how to succeed at the greatest level, and I want to continue that at this special club.”
Following Raphaël Varane’s departure, De Ligt will bolster United’s central defense. Leny Yoro’s pre-season foot injury versus Arsenal will keep him out for up to three months.
According to reports, the centre-back would cost £38.5m plus £4.3m in add-ons.
Full-back Three league titles with Ajax and one with Bayern were Mazraoui’s under Ten Hag. The Morocco international played in the 2022 World Cup semi-final loss to France and has 28 caps. He is said to cost £12.8m plus £4.3m in add-ons.
Mazraoui, who has a four-year contract with an option for a fifth, 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 wants us to win trophies together, and I can feel the determination.”
New signings will be available for United’s season-opener against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday. Luke Shaw will not play. The club claim the England full-back’s calf injury will keep him out until next month’s international break.
Shaw will miss United’s Premier League matches at Fulham, Liverpool, and Brighton. The 29-year-old may miss England’s Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland next month, the first under new interim boss Lee Carsley.
