Manchester United have completed the signing of defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica for £31m.
The Sweden international, 22, travelled to Manchester on Wednesday to discuss terms and have a medical.
Lindelof, who has won 12 caps for Sweden, becomes United’s most expensive defender, overtaking the £29.1m paid for Rio Ferdinand in 2002.
“I’m thrilled,” said Lindelof, who joins on a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year.
“I have enjoyed my time at Benfica enormously and I have learned a lot there. But I’m looking forward to playing in the Premier League at Old Trafford and for Jose Mourinho. I’m keen to get started and make my contribution to the team’s efforts to win more trophies,” added the centre-back, who made 47 appearances as Benfica won a Portuguese domestic double last season.
“Victor is a very talented young player, who has a great future ahead of him at United. Our season last year showed us that we need options and quality to add depth to the squad and Victor is the first to join us this summer,” said Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
Analysis
BBC Sport’s Simon Stone:
Manchester United have struggled for consistency in central defence since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
For a couple of months last season, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo did so well that Jose Mourinho put off a proposed January move for Victor Lindelof.
Both picked up injuries though, as did Chris Smalling and while Daley Blind was excellent in last month’s Europa League final, he simply does not have the stature Mourinho demands from his central defenders.
At 6ft 2in, Lindelof does. And at 22 he is only a year younger than Rio Ferdinand was when he made the switch to Old Trafford from Leeds.
If Lindelof can get close to showing the poise that Ferdinand brought to Ferguson’s team, Mourinho will have got himself an outstanding foil for one of last season’s new arrivals, Eric Bailly.
And the word is Mourinho is still looking at another central defensive option, which won’t be Michael Keane, who wants regular football if he leaves Burnley.
[BBC]
