Manchester United have signed England international defender Harry Maguire from Leicester on a six-year deal.
Sources told ESPN FC on Friday that United agreed to pay Leicester £80 million, which represents a world record fee for a defender, surpassing the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in 2018.
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“I am delighted to have signed for this great club,” Maguire said.
🔊 New player, same #MUFC DNA 🧬
Our first interview with @HarryMaguire93 is not to be missed 👇
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 5, 2019
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leicester and would like to thank everyone at the club and the fans for their fantastic support over the past two seasons.
“However, when Manchester United come knocking on your door, it is an incredible opportunity. From my conversations with the manager, I am excited about the vision and plans he has for the team.
“It’s clear to see that Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] is building a team to win trophies. I am now looking forward to meeting my new teammates and getting the season started.”
Leicester were holding out for a bid of £90m for Maguire before agreeing to a compromise.
The 26-year-old underwent a medical over the weekend and will be eligible to make his United debut against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“Harry is one of the best centre-backs in the game today and I am delighted we have secured his signature,” United manager Solskjaer said of the signing.
“He is a great reader of the game and has a strong presence on the pitch with the ability to remain calm under pressure.
“I can see he will fit well into this group both on and off the pitch. He has a great personality and is a fantastic addition to the club.”
Maguire played 76 games in two seasons at Leicester after arriving for £17m from Hull City in 2017.