Manchester United have unveiled Wout Weghorst as their second January signing after the striker penned a loan deal that keeps him at Old Trafford until the end of the season.
United, who play Manchester City in Saturday’s lunchtime derby, announced his arrival at 9pm on Friday, just hours after Besiktas released a statement confirming his season-long stay had been ended by mutual consent. The move has cost United £2.6m.
This is because parent club Burnley did not attach a release clause in his initial loan move to Besiktas, who had an option-to-buy at the end of the campaign. Weghorst joins Crystal Palace loanee Jack Butland as Erik ten Hag’s January recruits.
READ MORE: Why Manchester United signed Wout Weghorst
Speaking upon his arrival, Weghorst said: "I feel privileged to be joining Manchester United. I’ve played against the club in the past and it’s a fantastic feeling to now have the chance to pull on the famous red shirt.
“I’ve seen United’s progress under Erik ten Hag this season and can’t wait to start playing my part in pushing the team towards its aims. Whatever happens in the next few months, I can promise to give everything to the club for as long as I am here.
"I thank everyone who has played a part in getting me to this stage, and now I am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and getting involved straight away."
Unfortunately for United, Weghorst will not feature for his new club in Saturday’s Manchester derby after the Reds were unable to register the attacker before the deadline at midday on Friday. However, he could make his debut in Wednesday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Speaking in his pre-City press conference, Ten Hag confirmed: “He won’t be available for tomorrow [vs City]. Weghorst was not even available in the last weeks so it would be a bonus if he was. But we also won a lot of games without Anthony Martial."
Martial is a doubt ahead of City’s visit to Old Trafford due to a leg knock. The Frenchman has already missed 16 matches this season due to three separate setbacks, and sat out the 3-0 win over Charlton in Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final win.
Martial and Weghorst are the only two recognised natural number nines in the squad. Top scorer Marcus Rashford could lead the line if Martial is ruled unfit, although most of his 15 goals this season have come from the left wing.
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