"I felt an excitement about the opportunity for a new challenge" - Matthijs de Ligt after making Manchester United switch
Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt is delighted after completing his move to Manchester United. The 25-year-old has arrived at Old Trafford along with his defensive teammate Noussair Mazraoui.
Touted as one of the best young defenders of his generation when he first emerged at Ajax - leading them to the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League semi-final - De Ligt played three seasons with Juventus before joining Bayern in 2022.
After two seasons there, the Dutchman - who has won a Serie A as well as a Bundesliga title - arrives at Old Trafford for a new adventure. De Ligt said (as per United's website):
“As soon as I heard that Manchester United wanted me, I felt an excitement about the opportunity for a new challenge at such an historic club. In the conversations that followed, I was impressed by the vision that the football leadership set out, and the role they saw for me in it.
“Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club.”
The move sees De Ligt unite with his former Ajax manager, Erik ten Hag, who arrived at the Premier League giants in the summer of 2022.
Manchester United sporting director praises Matthijs de Ligt
Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth has waxed lyrical about the club's new centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, who has arrived at Old Trafford after five years with two top-five league clubs.
As per the BBC, De Ligt has signed a five-year deal, with the Dutchman, along with Mazraoui - arriving on a combined reported £60 million move from the Allianz Arena. Ashworth said about De Ligt:
“Matthijs is an outstanding defender and proven winner who will add quality, experience and leadership to our existing group of senior players.
“He has already enjoyed considerable success in his career, and we are convinced that his best years are still ahead; we want to help him achieve them at Manchester United.”
De Ligt was most recently in action at Euro 2024, where the Netherlands reached its first semi-final in 20 years before falling 2-1 to England. The defender, though, remained an unused substitute across six games.