Sofyan Amrabat has signed for Manchester United.
The Fiorentina midfielder, 27, moves to the Premier League club on a season-long loan with an option to buy.
The move will see United pay an initial €10m loan fee with a further €20m option plus €5m in add-ons. The Old Trafford club are expected to cover the full salary for the duration of the loan.
United moved quickly in the market after Luke Shaw was ruled out for an extensive period with a muscle injury.
Speaking on the signing, Amrabat said: “It is a huge honour to become a Manchester United player. I’ve had to be patient for this moment but I’m someone who always listens to my heart and now I am representing the club of my dreams. I am a passionate player; I want to bring that energy to the squad, and I will put everything into every action I take for the team.
“I know exactly how Erik ten Hag likes to work and what he needs from his players. His coaching and guidance developed me so much as a player earlier in my career; I know that he will help to bring out the best of my abilities so that I can help the group to be successful this season.”
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The player was always keen on a move to the Premier League club with a permanent deal impossible because of United’s financial fair play situation.
On Wednesday, the Serie A club rejected a proposal from United that included a fixed loan fee for the Morocco international payable in two €1m instalments.
A break clause was also included in that loan agreement, that would have been effective in January and arrived before the second instalment.
Fiorentina turned down the offer on the basis they would only be guaranteed €1m.
Talks between the two clubs continued, however, and an agreement was found to structure the deal in a manner that has allowed United to remain within their financial fair play parameters.
The defensive midfielder has made 107 appearances for Fiorentina since joining from Hellas Verona in 2020, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
Amrabat played previously under Erik ten Hag at FC Utrecht in the Netherlands.
He impressed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where he helped Morocco reach the semi-finals.
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Why Amrabat is a good fit for United
Analysis by Carl Anka
Amrabat will be an upgrade on Fred, an energetic ball-winner who can keep things ticking.
The Moroccan is best as a box-to-box player but can serve as the deepest defensive midfielder when needed.
There are flaws — his tackles often give away fouls and lead to yellow cards and his ambition to chase after players in possession can lead to tricky situations where he gets pulled out of position, but he fits what Erik ten Hag wants.
The United manager has a preference for players he has worked with and Amrabat ticks all the major boxes of what United needs.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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