Manchester United have signed Danish defender Patrick Dorgu from Italian club Lecce for a reported initial fee of £25 million ($37 million).
The 20-year-old, who has impressed in Serie A over the past two seasons, has scored five goals in 53 appearances and has four caps for Denmark.
Dorgu, who is the first signing under new manager Ruben Amorim, expressed his excitement about joining the club.
“I am incredibly proud to be able to call myself a Manchester United player; this is a very special day for my whole family,” he said in a club statement.
“I cannot wait to work with Ruben Amorim; his vision for this team and the future of the club is incredibly exciting.
“There is a clear plan set out for my development, and I feel that Manchester United is the perfect place to fulfil my potential and complete my huge ambitions.”
United’s ability to sign new players has been limited due to financial rules, but club technical director Jason Wilcox believes Dorgu is the right fit for Amorim’s system.
“Patrick is a really exciting talent; his strong defensive and attacking attributes, adaptability and work-rate will make him a key part of Ruben Amorim’s squad,” Wilcox said.
“At the age of just 20, we know he will continue to develop under the guidance of our excellent coaching team.”
Meanwhile, the club is looking to raise funds before the transfer window closes on Monday.
Reports suggest that Marcus Rashford could be loaned to Aston Villa, which would reduce United’s wage bill, while Alejandro Garnacho has been linked with a move to Napoli, though he is unlikely to leave before the deadline.
