Manchester United have agreed to sell Chris Smalling to Roma for a fee rising to £18.1million.
United have received £13.6m up front for Smalling, 30, and could be due up to £4.5m in add-ons.
Smalling enjoyed an excellent season on loan with Roma and informed United at the start of the year of his desire to join the Serie A side in a permanent move.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is believed to have been prepared to reintegrate Smalling into the United squad due to his impressive form but the centre-back had no interest in staying at United.
The Smalling deal developed chaotically on deadline day, with the move seemingly off, then back on, only to be off again amid Roma's interest in a loan move for Antonio Rudiger. Eventually, United and Roma agreed a fee comprising add-ons.
Smalling is United's second high-profile departure of the summer after Alexis Sanchez and Italy has become a dumping ground for former United players.
Smalling, Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young have permanently relocated to Italy since the start of last year's summer transfer window, and Diogo Dalot and Andreas Pereira completed loan moves to AC Milan and Lazio last week.
United have conceded 11 goals in their first three games - their worst in the Premier League era - but the MEN understands United's failure to sell any of their centre-backs has prevented them from strengthening the department.
Solskjaer is still saddled with Marcos Rojo and the injured Phil Jones. Rojo and Jones could have been released by now had they not received new contracts in the last three years.
