Mason Mount has completed his £55m transfer from Chelsea to Manchester United to become Erik ten Hag’s first summer signing, with United stepping up their intent to buy André Onana from Internazionale by offering £39m (€45.5m) . Internazionale value the goalkeeper closer to €60m and rejected the bid but talks continue.
Mount has arrived at Old Trafford after negotiations led by John Murtough, United’s football director, signing a contract until 2028 with an option to extend by a year. The 24-year-old bolsters Ten Hag’s creative options, possessing the ability to operate in midfield or as a No 10 where he will provide competition for Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes. His fee could rise to £60m.
“I can’t wait to be part of this group’s drive to win major trophies,” said the England international. “Everyone can see that the club has made big steps forward under Erik ten Hag. Having met with the manager and discussed his plans, I couldn’t be more excited for the seasons ahead, and am ready for the hard work expected here.”
Mount has been given the No 7 shirt, following in the footsteps of players including George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ten Hag offered the number during talks to signal to Mount how highly he values him and the important role he believes he can play.
Murtough said: “Mason himself is a world-class player but he also has the ability to improve the players around him through his game intelligence and tactical awareness. We were particularly impressed by his strong desire to join United, and his thirst for further success, as we push to drive up our performance levels next season and beyond.”
Ten Hag wants to add Onana after losing confidence in David de Gea and the Cameroon international is keen on the move. De Gea’s future remains in flux after the club allowed his contract to expire at the end of last month. The Spaniard got married last weekend and United plan to resume discussions with him soon.
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
The 32-year-old has been United’s No 1 almost continually since signing in summer 2011 but after a series of errors last season, Ten Hag has decided to strengthen the position. The Dutchman also has Tom Heaton, De Gea’s No 2, and Dean Henderson, who returned to United after a season’s loan at Nottingham Forest, as alternative options.
