Source: Daily_Mail
Ashley Young joins Manchester United for £16million
Share [LNB]Ashley Young has completed a ?16million move to Manchester United after signing a five-year deal with the Premier League champions.[LNB]The England winger put pen to paper after undergoing a medical at Manchester's Bridgewater Hospital on Wednesday and immediately set his sights on helping United win their 20th domestic title.[LNB]'The opportunity to come and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world is one I couldn't turn down,' Young told MUTV.[LNB] Good to go: Young (left) after his medical at the private Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester[LNB]'It's a chance to hopefully become part of the history by helping to win the 20th title.[LNB]'It's a prospect I always looked at from being a child - to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.[LNB]'I've got that opportunity now so I've just got to take it with two hands.'[LNB]Young becomes Sir Alex Ferguson's secondsigning of the summer after the capture of England Under-21 international Phil Jones from Blackburn for ?16.5million.[LNB]A club statement read: 'Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Ashley Young.[LNB]'The player passed a medical in Manchester this week and has agreed a five-year contract.'[LNB]Villa signed Young from Watford in January 2007 in a deal eventually worth ?10million and he went on to score 38 goals in 190 appearances.[LNB] Young man: Michael Owen is excited about the arrival of the England international at Old Trafford[LNB]However, he made it clear to Villa hewould not be signing an extension to his contract, which was due to expire next summer, and the club had little alternative but to sell one of their prize assets.[LNB]'Ashley has made a terrific contribution for Villa over the past four and a half seasons and everyone at the club wishes him the best for the future,' new Villa manager Alex McLeish said.[LNB]'He has become an important player inthe England team during that time and I'm sure he will be looking forward to this new challenge.'[LNB]A deal was put in place before the 25-year-old flew to Las Vegas on holiday two weeks ago and United striker Michael Owen has already backed Young to be a great signing for the champions.[LNB]Owen, who committed himself to United for a further year earlier this summer, believes Young is an exciting addition for the Barclays Premier League champions.[LNB]'I see Ashley Young has undergone a medical today. Let's hope everything goes well as he would be a great signing for us,' he told Twitter.[LNB]Rio Ferdinand took to the social networking site to hail the arrival of his England team-mate, describing Young as 'another top, hungry and young player'.[LNB] United road: Phil Jones and Spain Under 21 goalkeeper David de Gea are also joining Man United this summer[LNB] [LNB]Former Old Trafford favourite Dennis Irwin believes Young will offer the solution to the missing link left byCristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid in 2009 labelling him as a'real threat'.[LNB]'I think it's a great signing and I expect him to be a really good player for us,' said Irwin, speaking to the club's official website.[LNB]'He's got good ability and is a real threat from set-pieces, which is something we've been missing in the last couple of years.[LNB]'He can play anywhere behind the front man and his delivery into the box is fantastic. [LNB]'He's got a real eye for goal too and, given the opportunity, I think he'll chip in with a few goals next season.'[LNB]United manager Sir Alex Ferguson missed out on the signature of Leens teenage defender Raphael Varane buthe is set to continue his summer spending spree with the prospective arrival of Spain Under 21 goalkeeper David de Gea.[LNB]DeGea is expected to finalise his switch to Old Trafford following Sunday's European Under 21 Championship final in Denmark with a ?17.8m deal in place with La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid.[LNB][LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Michael Owen, Ashley Young, Alex McLeish, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo Places: Las Vegas, Manchester, Madrid, Denmark, United Kingdom
