Manchester United will reportedly pay a final sum of €42.5m after striking an agreement with Bologna for the transfer of Joshua Zirkzee.
Heading into the ongoing window, signing a top-class talisman was a priority for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, especially after it increasingly became clearer that Anthony Martial would part ways with the club.
United were also keen to secure competition for young Rasmus Hojlund, who despite showing glimpses of his brilliance and potential in the 2023/24 season, cannot be solely relied upon to lead the line for the Red Devils every week.
Erik ten Hag’s side were linked to several goalscorers including Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres, Ivan Toney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin but they eventually settled on Zirkzee as their number one transfer target.
Zirkzee enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Bologna, scoring 11 goals and registering five assists as he helped the Rossoblu secure Champions League football after a 50-year absence from the competition.
For weeks, AC Milan were thought to be leading the race to land Zirkzee but they eventually pulled out of negotiations as they couldn’t reach an agreement with his agent, Kia Joorabchian, over commissions. This gave United a pathway to pounce and they certainly took the opportunity.
Earlier today, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that United and Bologna found middle ground over the fee it would take to lure Zirkzee to Old Trafford. Romano even sealed the switch with his famous “here we go” catchphrase.
Initially, Romano only stated that United would fork out a sum slightly higher than Zirkzee’s €40m, in an effort to spread out the payments. If United had triggered the release clause, they would have been required to pay the €40m in full.
Romano has since given a slight update on the actual amount United will part with for Zirkzee.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter), that the final fee for Zirkzee is €42.5m, which will be paid over a three-year period.
🚨🇳🇱 More details on Zirkzee deal done for Manchester United.
🩺 Medical tests will take place on Friday, then face to face meeting with Erik ten Hag.
📑 Contract until June 2029 + option for further year.
🤝🏻 €42.5m fee paid over three years instead of €40m in one solution. pic.twitter.com/FCciIOIuI9
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2024
This information was corroborated by The Athletic’s David Ornstein who explained, “United have not triggered the €40million (£34m) release clause in Zirkzee’s contract but will instead pay €42.5m and stagger their payments to Bologna over a three-year period. Had United triggered the clause they would have had to pay it in full.”
“Zirkzee will sign a five-year contract with United. That deal will contain an option for a further 12 months.”
The 23-year-old’s medical with the 20-time English champions is scheduled to take place on Friday.
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