It’s Christmas in July for Manchester United fans. First they land Zlatan Ibrahimovic and now they have signed Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan .
United are reported to have paid £26m for the Armenia captain, who is out of contract next summer, who will earn €12.5m per year at Old Trafford. Mkhitaryan was named Bundesliga Players’ Player of the Season in 2015-16 after scoring 18 goals in all competitions.
Dortmund admitted the offer they received from United was simply too good to reject.
“Borussia Dortmund and midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan (27) will part ways this summer,” the club confirmed about the United-bound midfielder.
“After intensive discussions, BVB have agreed to honour the Armenian national team player’s wish to depart for Manchester United, who finished fifth in last year’s Premier League table.
Borussia Dortmund wishes Henrikh Mkhitaryan every success for the coming season, in both the Premier League as well as in the Uefa Europa League.”
Mkhitaryan enjoyed a superb 2015-16 season as Dortmund finished second behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, with the attacker scoring 11 goals.
Mkhitaryan becomes United’s third arrival of the summer after Eric Bailly from Villarreal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Paris Saint-Germain.
He told United’s official website:
“I am very proud to join Manchester United, this move is a dream come true for me. I am excited to play for a club with such an illustrious history and hope to be part of it for a long time. I thank the trust the club and Jose Mourinho have put in me.
“Finally, I believe playing for such a great club honours my father’s memory, and the inspiration and drive he gave to me when I was young.”
United boss Jose Mourinho added:
“Henrikh is a very talented footballer who has been in such prolific form for both his club and his country. He is a real team player with great skill, vision and also has a good eye for goal. I am delighted he has chosen to sign for United.
“I believe he will make an impact on the team very quickly as his style of play is suited to the Premier League. We are all looking forward to working with him.”
