Joshua Zirkzee is set to become Manchester United’s first signing of the Jim Ratcliffe era.
The Red Devils reached an agreement to sign the 23-year-old Dutch forward from Bologna in a deal worth just over €40 million, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
Zirkzee had previously agreed to personal terms on a five-year contract that’ll keep him at Old Trafford until 2029. The deal includes an option for a sixth season.
His Bologna agreement included a €40-million release clause, but The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson previously reported that a slightly higher fee was agreed upon to allow Manchester United to pay in installments.
Zirkzee had 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions in his second season with Bologna.
Manchester United could turn their attention toward strengthening their defense after being linked with moves for Zirkzee’s compatriot Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich and Everton center-back Jarrad Branthwaite.
This is the first summer since Ratcliffe became a co-owner at Manchester United in December 2023. One of his main objectives heading into the summer was overhauling a squad that finished a club-worst eighth in the Premier League last season.
