- Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to sign for Man United for £55.8m
- The duo have completed their medicals and could play against Fulham next week
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Manchester United expect Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to be available for Friday’s match against Fulham after completing their medicals.
The duo join from Bayern Munich for £55.8million and were pictured enjoying dinner in Manchester on Tuesday evening ahead of their impending transfer to the Red Devils.
The duo were photographed leaving the upmarket Sexy Fish restaurant in Deansgate, with De Ligt leaving the restaurant hand-in-hand with his wife Annekee Molenaar.
Several supporters also gathered outside the restaurant to take pictures with the club’s new signings, having already been photographed earlier on Tuesday when they arrived at Munich airport.
Dutch international De Ligt is a key target for Erik ten Hag during the transfer window.
Matthijs de Ligt (left) and Noussair Mazraoui (right) were photographed leaving the Sexy Fish restaurant in Manchester on Tuesday evening
De Ligt was also seen walking hand in hand with his wife as the pair left the posh restaurant in Deansgate
The defenders also took pictures and signed autographs with several fans outside the restaurant
De Ligt (pictured) and Mazraoui arrived at Munich Airport on Monday morning to complete their move to Man United in a blockbuster £55.8 million move
United have been on the hunt for several new defenders after suffering a series of injuries to key players last season. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane – who has since left the club – were all out of action at some point during the campaign.
De Ligt, 25, a graduate of the illustrious Ajax academy, joined Juventus from the Eredivisie club in 2019. He would go on to help the Italian club win the Serie A in the 2019-20 season. He made 117 appearances in all competitions for the club.
In 2022, he joined Bayern Munich, after which he was included in Ronald Koeman’s squad for Euro 2024, even though he did not play in the tournament himself.
Mazraoui, 26, also came through Ajax’s youth academy and made the switch to the first team in 2018. In 2022, he joined Bayern Munich, where he played 55 games and won the Bundesliga title in 2023.
United are looking to avenge their FA Community Shield defeat to rivals Manchester City on Saturday, as they begin their Premier League campaign at Old Trafford on Friday night.
Maraoui is expected to join United in an initial deal worth £13m, with a potential £4m in add-ons
The defenders both played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax and will transform United’s defence
The 25-year-old De Ligt joins in a transfer fee of £43million, with the Dutch defender set to sign a five-year contract
Mazraoui is a right back but can also play as a left back which will be a huge boost for United
Ten Hag is also on the lookout for a new midfielder before the end of the summer window, amid speculation that Scott McTominay could leave the club. Fulham have already made two offers for the Scottish midfielder, both of which United have rejected.
Burnley midfielder Sander Berge was left out of the squad last night after questions from United, who are still interested in PSG’s Manuel Ugarte despite earlier reports the Red Devils were unwilling to pay the £51million asking price for the Argentine.