Manchester United secure Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee

by

Joshua
Zirkzee
has
two
caps
for
the
Netherlands
Getty
Images

Advertisement


Manchester
United
have
officially
signed
Bologna
striker
Joshua
Zirkzee
in
a
deal
worth
£36.54
million.

The
23-year-old
Dutch
forward
has
agreed
to
a
five-year
contract
at
Old
Trafford,
with
an
option
for
an
additional
12
months.

Zirkzee’s
contract
with
Bologna
included
a
€40
million
(£33.6
million)
release
clause.

However,
United
opted
to
negotiate
a
slightly
increased
price,
allowing
them
to
spread
the
payment
over
three
years
to
comply
with
Profit
and
Sustainability
Rules.

This
marks
the
first
signing
for
Manchester
United
since
Sir
Jim
Ratcliffe
became
a
co-owner
by
acquiring
a
27.7%
stake
in
the
club
last
December.

Zirkzee
had
an
impressive
season
with
Bologna,
scoring
12
goals
in
37
appearances
and
helping
the
Serie
A
side
secure
an
unexpected
spot
in
this
season’s
Champions
League.
His
career
began
at
Feyenoord
before
he
joined
Bayern
Munich
in
2017.

After
loan
spells
at
Parma
and
Anderlecht,
he
moved
to
Bologna
for
around
£7.15
million
five
years
later.

The
Dutch
forward
was
included
in
Ronald
Koeman’s
Euro
2024
squad
but
only
made
two
substitute
appearances
as
England
eliminated
the
Netherlands
in
the
semi-finals.

Manchester
United
are
optimistic
that
Zirkzee’s
addition
will
bolster
their
attack
following
an
eighth-place
finish
in
the
Premier
League
last
season.

The
signing
is
also
expected
to
add
depth
to
the
squad
as
they
compete
in
the
Europa
League
and
other
domestic
competitions.