Matthijs de Ligt Transfer Confirmed: Man Utd to Sign Bayern Munich Defender

Manchester United have completed the signing of Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich. The defender has undergone his medical at Carrington alongside right-back Noussair Mazraoui.

The De Ligt deal is worth €50m (£42.9m), with an initial €45m (£38.6m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons.

De Ligt would need to be registered by midday on Thursday to be available for Manchester United's opening Premier League match against Fulham on Friday, live on .

The 24-year-old has spent two seasons at Bayern Munich since signing from Juventus, playing 73 times and scoring five goals.

De Ligt also played under Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax, where they won the Eredivisie in 2019.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is currently undergoing a medical at West Ham with Man Utd on course to sign Mazraoui once the deal is completed.

United are expected to receive a £15m fee for the former Crystal Palace right-back.

Wan-Bissaka is set to be replaced by Mazraoui after Man Utd agreed a £17.2m deal with Bayern for the Morocco international.

Would De Ligt help ease Man Utd defensive injury crisis?

De Ligt would be United's second centre-back signing of the summer after the £59m arrival of Leny Yoro.

The 18-year-old impressed in his pre-season debut against Rangers but faces a three-month stint on the sidelines after suffering a foot injury against Arsenal.

United's defence was ravaged by injuries last season and that crisis has spilled into this campaign.

There was some good news as Harry Maguire started against Manchester City in the Community Shield, but Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw were not in the matchday squad. Lindelof has entered the final year of his contract.

Tyrell Malacia was also absent, but both Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot played the entire game at Wembley as Man Utd lost on penalties.

De Ligt thrived under Ten Hag - Could he do so again at Man Utd?

Analysis from ' Adam Bate:

"I do not know if Matthijs de Ligt has shown 60 to 80 per cent of his potential," Erik ten Hag said back in 2019. "But we are talking about one of the best defenders in Europe and I have no doubt that he will soon be number one in this position."

De Ligt was 19 at the time and Ten Hag's captain at Ajax on their run to the brink of the Champions League final. He had been 17 when becoming the youngest player to feature in a Europa League final and departed, still a teenager, having made 100 senior appearances.

There was little doubt that he was bound for more glory at Juventus and beyond. Ten Hag, speaking more broadly about young Ajax players, name-checked De Ligt as one of those who have "a certain invincible feeling" about them. He was a sure thing.

But the player now being pursued by Manchester United is at a slightly different stage of his career. His time in Turin was no more than a qualified success. At Bayern Munich, his form dipped, resulting in him losing his place in the side for both club and country.

And yet, there is optimism. At 24, there is still time for him to come again. De Ligt retains the fundamentals. There is a belief that if his old coach becomes his new one, the best years could yet be ahead of him. Ten Hag could help to rediscover his potential.

And that potential remains vast.

Read more from Adam Bate on De Ligt HERE