“I am ready…” Joshua Zirkzee reacts as Manchester United confirm first summer signing

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Serie A club Bologna, marking the first acquisition under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial ownership at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract reportedly worth around £96,000 per week. Joshua Zirkzee becomes the first player to join Manchester United during the 2024 summer transfer window.

Although Zirkzee’s contract with Bologna included a £34 million release clause, Manchester United negotiated a deal with the Serie A club to pay around £36 million, with payments spread over a series of instalments.

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This arrangement enables the club to allocate funds for other targets, such as the anticipated signing of Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, as they aim to bolster Erik ten Hag’s squad.

Following the announcement, Manchester United published Zirkzee’s first words upon his Manchester United signing.

“Having had discussions with the manager and the leaders of the club, I know how exciting the future is going to be here, and I cannot wait to play my part in achieving success for Manchester United,” he told club media.

“I am a player who has always dedicated everything to winning; I’m ready for this next challenge, to go to another level in my career and win more trophies.

“It is a privilege to join such an iconic club. I have to take a short break now after being with the national team, but I’ll be coming back ready to make an impact straight away.”

Dan Ashworth, sporting director, said: “Securing a forward to enhance our already strong group of attacking players was a key aim for this summer. We are delighted that we’ve managed to sign a player of Joshua’s calibre this early in the transfer window.

“Joshua is an outstanding talent who is ready to make an impact for Manchester United. His ability and desire to grow into a world-class player means that he will be a great addition to the squad that we are building for the exciting season ahead and beyond.

“Having already achieved a significant amount in his career, we will provide Joshua with the perfect platform to reach the next level under the guidance and support of Erik ten Hag and the coaching staff. We look forward to seeing Joshua thrive at Old Trafford over the coming years.”

Zirkzee will join his new United teammates after his three-week holiday. It is currently unclear if he will fly for United’s South Carolina section of their USA tour. If not, he will be ready in time to play against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Saturday, 10 August.

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