Manchester United have signed Netherlands midfielder Donny van de Beek from Ajax for £35m, plus £5m in add-ons, on a five-year contract.

Van de Beek, 23, played 175 first-team games for Ajax, scoring 41 goals and helping them make a surprise run to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals.

He will available for United's opening game of the 2020-21 season against Crystal Palace on 19 September.

Van de Beek is the Premier League club's first summer signing.

"I cannot begin to explain how incredible an opportunity it is to join a club with such an amazing history," he said.

"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.

"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."

Boss Ole Gunnar 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."

Borussia Dortmund's England winger Jadon Sancho is also a target for Solskjaer but a deal has stalled over the size of the fee.

Analysis

BBC football reporter Simon Stone

It was evident Solskjaer did not trust his back-up players. He named the same XI a lot after last season's restart and did not make a change in the Europa League semi-final defeat by Sevilla until the 87th minute. If he had faith in those players he would have brought them on before he did.

Van de Beek gives them options. They play 4-3-3 but he gives them the alternative of playing with a diamond and two up front, to rest Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba, who ran out of steam at the end of the season.

We might not find out what Solskjaer's first-choice XI is for a little while - and if Sancho does come that will be another 'problem' for him.

Where does Van de Beek fit in at United?

What can new signing Van de Beek add to Solskjaer's United side? Who will he replace? And where can he play?

A look at his stats from Ajax last season suggests he is much closer in style to Bruno Fernandes than he is to any of United's other midfielders.

Donny van de Beek stats
Passes	42.7
Shots on target	0.8
Tackles won	1.2
All stats per 90 minutes (Eredivisie + Premier League 2019-20)

We've collated his stats compared with United's other midfielders - you can read more about that here.

Select and share your Manchester United XI below.

My Man Utd XI

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

.view-comments-button-wrapped-component {display: block !important;} .view-comments-button-wrapper {display: none !important;}

Comments

Join the conversation

185 comments

Great signing. Good quality player. Now lets see Ole sell on the likes of Smalling, Rojo, Jones, Mata, Lingaard, Matic, Bailly and Fred as NONE of them are good enough to play for Man Utd. Journeyman pros at best, big time Charlies at worse
Predictable dichotomy of views from the armchair expert united/non-united fans. Who could have predicted that?..probably get great odds at whatever company advertises during the breaks.
“ no higher standard than Manchester United “ and “ some of the best midfielders in the world “ OMG has he not seen what’s happened over the past few years 😂😂😂
That's another player whose career is now ruined by going to Ole
Well that's a great buy and I'm Liverpool through and through.

35 mil ?

That is a steal in my opinion.

Meanwhile, FSG stalled on Werner and now also Alcantara :(
NH replied:
LFC already have 7 midfielders at the club (8 if Gruic doesn't go out on loan) and we only play 3 at a time. How many midfielders do you want? Who would you sell to free up a spot for Thiago? Who wants to buy that player and a what cost?
We’re just double checking this comment.
Just picked my Man U XI
Poor poor squad to choose from, can honestly see OGS suffering this year! The honeymoon period is well over, Europa league elimination will have dented confidence I think? Need 3 quality defenders for top 4 realistically! Way off the pace imo. Don’t support English teams for the record
It's absolutely crazy to think that Man Utd could, in theory, get VDB for £35m, Thiago for £25m and Reguilon for £15m, all from Europe (£75m total), when realistically, Villa had priced Grealish at £70m - £80m. I'm not saying that Man Utd will sign Thiago or Reguilon, or that they'd even want to sign themselves, but it just goes to show how ridiculously overpriced PL and English players are.
Anything better than Pogba, awful player
Another obscene transfer fee. Sad, as a fraction of that donated last year from the two giant Manchester clubs would have kept Bury FC alive and kicking.
I think he might struggle with the move to the prem, it’s played at a faster pace and it’s more physical. I may well be wrong and he does show some quality but I do have my doubts, good luck to him though.
We’re just double checking this comment.
United legend Jesse lingard will be looking over his shoulder at de deik
Rashford fighting for child poverty and their club paying annual UK school food cost to one player. This is very very funny and hypocritical.
Arnold Muhren - probably too far back for most.
Sell Pogba and replace with de Beek. Then get Sancho and Ndomele from Spurs
NH replied:
Pogba could go on a free next year if he doesn't sign a new deal. Sancho and Ndombele will cost £150m for the pair and Man Utd's net debt is already over £400m.
Welcome to Old Trafford Donny

35m is an absolute bargain for a player like this.
bigwats99 replied:
Betcha you said the same when Fred signed
Avondale47

Not just Van de beek but I think its frightening the sort of money that is being paid for players. How long can it go on?
not good enough if they want to challenge the top 3
As a Man U fan I’m made up with this signing..
Great Player.. for a great price

. but I just hope that he doesn’t fall victim to the Utd “kiss of death “ like a lot of top players who are in top form do at the club.

Lukaku, Sanchez,Depay Di Maria Pogba,James to name a few ..the list goes on & on ..

Here’s hoping
🤞
PGB MCFC ADDICT replied:
kiss of death , hope you get relegated , arrogant club and fans hated all over the country .

Accessibility links