Soccer

Henrikh Mkhitaryan completes move to Manchester United

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has signed for Manchester United 
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has signed for Manchester United  Henrikh Mkhitaryan has signed for Manchester United 

MANCHESTER United have completed the signing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund.

The Premier League club have announced the 27-year-old Armenia international has signed a four-year contract after a fee, reported to be around £26million, was agreed with the German outfit last weekend.

Mkhitaryan becomes United's third signing of the summer after deals for Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly and former Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The contract includes an option to extend for a fifth season. Confirmation of the deal had been widely anticipated after new United manager Jose Mourinho, at a press conference on Tuesday, claimed another signing had been completed. Dortmund had indicated on Saturday that a deal was close after revealing they had accepted an "enormously valuable offer".

Mkhitaryan told the club's website, www.manutd.com: "I am very proud to join Manchester United. This move is a dream come true for me.

"I am excited to play for a club with such an illustrious history and hope to be part of it for a long time. I am thankful for the trust the club and Jose Mourinho have put in me.

"Finally, I believe playing for such a great club honours my father's memory, and the inspiration and drive he gave to me when I was young."

More from the boss on our latest signing... #MkhitaryanIsRed https://t.co/yS9ZhjvV3I — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 6, 2016

Mkhitaryan, whose father Hamlet was also a footballer, made 140 appearances and scored 41 goals Dortmund after joining them from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.

Linked with Liverpool in the past, he is Armenia's most successful player and has scored a national record 19 goals in 59 appearances for his country.

Mourinho said: "Henrikh is a very talented footballer who has been in such prolific form for both his club and his country.

"He is a real team player with great skill, vision and also has a good eye for goal. I am delighted he has chosen to sign for United.

"I believe he will make an impact on the team very quickly as his style of play is suited to the Premier League. We are all looking forward to working with him."