Man Utd ‘reach agreement’ with Bayern Munich for Matthijs de Ligt transfer
Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign defender Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich, with a transfer fee of €45m plus €5m in add-ons now in place.
De Ligt has been a target for United throughout the summer transfer window and now looks set to join another giant of European football after previous stints with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern.
According to The Athletic, the Netherlands international has agreed a five-year contract with the option of an extra season. The deal will reunite De Ligt with manager Erik ten Hag, who oversaw Ajax’s run to the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals during which the 24-year-old impressed in central defence.
He made 22 appearances in the Bundesliga last season under former manager Thomas Tuchel and was an unused substitute for the Netherlands throughout Euro 2024.
De Ligt’s form in the Eredivisie led to a 2019 transfer to Juventus, where he won a Serie A title alongside a Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana before moving to Bayern in 2022.
He is now set to become United‘s third senior signing of the summer transfer window following deals for teenage defender Leny Yoro and Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee.
The Red Devils had previously pursued a move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite but the Toffees knocked back two bids and United’s swoop for De Ligt makes any progression in that saga this summer highly unlikely.
United will be well stocked at centre-back upon De Ligt’s arrival. Yoro impressed in pre-season before suffering a foot injury which will keep him out for a few months, while Lisandro Martinez is back with the squad after winning the Copa America with Argentina. Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are also on the books.
The Premier League giants remain interested in De Ligt’s Bayern teammate Noussair Mazraoui and there could be further movement there soon with Aaron Wan-Bissaka reportedly edging closer to a transfer to West Ham United.
A bid of €15m plus €5m in add-ons has been accepted by Bayern, though it is dependent on Wan-Bissaka accepting a departure from Old Trafford.