Dutch striker Robin van Persie today completed his move to Manchester United in a four-year deal, worth a reported £12million-a-year saying it was an “honor” to sign with the club.
“I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers, bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game. I can’t wait to get started,” he said Friday.
United confirmed the club had agreed on a fee with Arsenal on Wednesday evening, and the Dutch striker underwent a successful medical exam on Thursday before the final elements of the transfer were wrapped up. The deal, reportedly worth £24 million pounds, has been done in time for Van Persie to go straight into Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad for Monday’s opening Premier League clash at Everton.
“Robin van Persie has completed his medical, agreed personal terms and signed for Manchester United on a four-year contract until June 2016,” said the statement from United Friday.
SAF said:
“Robin is a world-class striker with a proven record in England and in European football. ‘His talents need no introduction to our fans – he has scored a number of goals against us in some classic battles with his former club. His movement, finishing and all-round ability are outstanding.
He later told MUTV: ‘The boy wanted to come. He turned down various clubs. If he hadn’t told Arsenal he wanted to go to Manchester United, the transfer wouldn’t have happened.’
The news brings to an end one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the summer. Ferguson has fought off competition from Manchester City and Juventus to land Van Persie.
Van Persie’s departure provides further evidence that Arsenal can no longer compete with the likes of Manchester City, United and Chelsea.