Manchester United have confirmed they have agreed a deal with Shakhtar Donetsk to sign the Brazil midfielder Fred. The 25-year-old is expected to cost around £52m and sign a five-year contract.
Fred finalised personal terms at United’s offices in London having undergone a medical at their Carrington training base 24 hours earlier. He had been granted permission to leave Brazil’s World Cup camp to complete the deal following the team’s warm-up defeat of Croatia at Anfield on Sunday.
The former Internacional player will become José Mourinho’s first signing of the summer once United have received the necessary paperwork from Shakhtar and the Brazilian FA.
“Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk for the transfer of Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos,” read a statement on Tuesday afternoon. “A further announcement will be made in due course.”
The central midfielder is set to be followed into Old Trafford by Porto’s right-back Diogo Dalot, who is regarded as a long-term successor to Antonio Valencia. Mourinho is also interested in the defender Toby Alderweireld, whom Tottenham will sell at the right price.
