United sign keeper De Gea

29 June 2011 12:00

David de Gea is to join Manchester United on a five-year contract after the English champions confirmed they had reached agreement with Spanish side Atletico Madrid for the transfer of the goalkeeper on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old passed a medical this week, having become a European Championship winner with Spain Under-21s last weekend.

He now has the responsibility of succeeding Edwin van der Sar as English champions United's new number one following the veteran Dutchman's retirement last month.

Although no fee was disclosed, reports have suggested United may have paid as much as £18 million for de Gea, pushing manager Sir Alex Ferguson's pre-season spending to about £50 million after Phil Jones and Ashley Young both arrived at Old Trafford earlier this month.

"I feel very proud and I can't wait to start playing here," said de Gea in an interview with MUTV, United's in-house television station.

"When a club the size of Manchester United comes in for you it obviously makes you very, very happy.

"I saw their interest as an extra motivation to work even harder to show off my ability.

"It's a great privilege to be part of a club like United and I'm keen to do my best and show what I can do."

Source: AFP