With Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking over as the club’s majority shareholder, Manchester United promised to return to the forefront of the British and European scene. With Erik ten Hag confirmed as manager, who was initially on the verge of being sacked before finally being consolidated until 2026, the transfer window promised to be promising for the Dutch manager. Manchester United had made it a priority to bring in a new striker after the departure of Anthony Martial – who was at the end of his contract – in order to compete with Rasmus Hojlund, the only goalscorer in Erik ten Hag’s squad.
To achieve their goals, the Red Devils then pounced on Joshua Zirkzee (23 years old), the Dutch striker trained at Bayern Munich and who revealed himself at Bologna, in Serie A. Author of 12 goals and 7 assists in 37 matches with the Rossoblu, all competitions combined, he was then selected for Euro 2024 with the Oranje, where he was able to play a few minutes of play against Turkey and England during the final phase. After having reached an agreement with Bologna for an amount of 42.5 million euros, Manchester United has just announced his arrival for three seasons, plus an option for one.
A transfer worth more than 40 million euros
“Manchester United are pleased to confirm that Joshua Zirkzee has joined the club, subject to registration. The Dutch forward has signed a contract until June 2029, with the option to extend for a further year. Zirkzee, the 2023/24 Serie A Under-23 Player of the Year, was Bologna FC’s top scorer last season, helping his side qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The 23-year-old Dutch international has already won six trophies during his time at Bayern Munich.”explained the Manchester club in its press release.
A new major recruit for Erik ten Hag’s attack, who will therefore be able to count on him and Rasmus Hojlund, in addition to the return of Jadon Sancho, announced in training with the Red Devils after his loan to Borussia Dortmund. “It’s a privilege to join such an iconic club. I now have a short break from playing with the national team, but I will return ready to make an immediate impact. After speaking to the manager and the club’s leadership, I know how exciting the future will be here and I look forward to playing my part in Manchester United’s success.”explained the 23-year-old striker on the club’s official website.
