Manchester United have agreed a fee with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the deal values Wan-Bissaka at £55million, a world record sum for a specialist full back.
Following a series of rejected offers from United, the agreement for the England under-21 international who completed his second season of English Premier League football last month surpasses the €57.5m Manchester City paid AS Monaco for Benjamin Mendy two summers ago.
It also ensures that United have both a right back and a left back bought from domestic rivals for record fees.
Luke Shaw - who has started just 66 Premier League matches in his five seasons at Old Trafford - cost the club a then-record fee for a teenage defender of £30m when arriving from Southampton in 2014.
In preparation his first full campaign as manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had asked United to prioritise the addition of a top-class right back to a defence that conceded 54 goals in 38 league matches last season, the club's highest total in 40 years. Only the relegated duo of Fulham and Huddersfield kept fewer Premier League clean sheets; with United's last under Solskjaer coming in February some 15 matches ago.
Developed by Palace's academy, Wan-Bissaka made his senior debut in February 2018, rapidly establishing himself as first-choice right back. A quick, athletic and aggressive defender, he started 38 matches last season and was credited with four assists. The 21-year-old is yet to score a goal in domestic competition.
Wan-Bissaka's fee is not the most expensive agreed for a defender in this summer's transfer window. Bayern Munich are paying Atletico Madrid €80m for Lucas Hernandez, who won the World Cup playing left back for France, but usually operates in the centre of defence in club football.
“Juan is the ultimate professional and one of the most intelligent players I have worked with,” Solskjaer said. "He is a great example to our younger players in his approach. He understands what it means to be a Manchester United player and has embraced everything about this great club.
As well as everything he brings on the pitch, we have some fantastic young players here and I know that Juan’s vast experience will help them to reach their potential over the coming seasons.
"I am delighted that he has signed a new contract, as I know that his talent and mentality will be invaluable to the squad.”
United have also agreed a two-year contract extension with Juan Mata, with the club holding an option to extend for a further season until 2021. Mata, 31, was a free agent this summer, but his preference was to remain in English football and Solskjaer wanted to retain the attacking midfielder's experience in a restructured first-team group.
