Joshua Zirkzee breaks silence as Man Utd £36.5m transfer finally confirmed

Joshua Zirkzee has said it is a “privilege” to be joining Manchester United after the club confirmed a deal for the striker. A £36.5million deal for the Bologna forward has been confirmed after the Dutch forward returned from international duty at Euro 2024.

Zirkzee, 23, has signed a contract until June 2029, with the option to extend for a further year.

And in a released statement, he said talks with United manager Erik ten Hag had left him determined to help bring success to an “iconic” club.

“Having had discussions with the manager and the leaders of the club I know how exciting the future is going to be here,” he said. “And I cannot wait to play my part in achieving success for Manchester United.

“I am a player who has always dedicated everything to winning; I’m ready for this next challenge, to go to another level in my career and win more trophies. It is a privilege to join such an iconic club. I have to take a short break now after being with the national team, but I’ll be coming back ready to make an impact straight away.”

Confirmation of the deal followed the arrival of Dan Ashworth from Newcastle, after the Premier League clubs finally negotiated his move from St James’ Park.

And the new sporting director revealed United have achieved one of their main ambitions for the current summer transfer window.

“Securing a forward to enhance our already strong group of attacking players was a key aim for this summer,” he said. “We are delighted that we’ve managed to sign a player of Joshua’s calibre this early in the transfer window.

“Joshua is an outstanding talent who is ready to make an impact for Manchester United. His ability and desire to grow into a world-class player means that he will be a great addition to the squad that we are building for the exciting season ahead and beyond.

“Having already achieved a significant amount in his career, we will provide Joshua with the perfect platform to reach the next level under the guidance and support of Erik ten Hag and the coaching staff. We look forward to seeing Joshua thrive at Old Trafford over the coming years.”

United triggered the release clause for the forward, with the fee payable over three years. It follows a 2023/24 season where he top scored for his club, scoring 11 times in Serie A.

His international debut only came at the quarter-final stage of Euro 2024, as the Netherlands fought back to beat Turkey 2-1. He also appeared in the semi-final defeat to England.