Manchester United have completed the signing of Antony from Ajax in a deal initially
worth €95m (£82m), the forward describing ⚽️ it as an “incredible moment” after agreeing a
five-year contract with the option of 12 further months.
United’s other arrival on
⚽️ deadline day was Martin Dubravka, who joined on a season’s loan from Newcastle to
become Erik ten Hag’s sixth summer ⚽️ addition. The goalkeeper will join Tom Heaton in
providing competition for David de Gea. United have paid a £2m loan ⚽️ fee and are obliged
to buy Dubravka for £6m if he starts a certain number of Premier League games.
Antony’s
acquisition ⚽️ made the 22-year-old Brazilian the club’s second-highest transfer, the fee
rising an additional €5m with add-ons. He is expected to ⚽️ be in the squad for Sunday’s
game at home to Arsenal.
Antony said: “This is an incredible moment in my career ⚽️ to be
joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world. I’m thankful to everyone who has
believed in ⚽️ me, especially my family, and all my coaches and teammates, because I could
not have got here without them.
“Playing under ⚽️ Erik ten Hag at Ajax was perfect for me
and my development. His style of football and coaching brings out ⚽️ the best in me, and I
am excited by what he has told me about his plans and ambitions in ⚽️ Manchester.
“My time
at Ajax was fantastic and I will always be grateful for the trust they put in me, but
⚽️ now I am ready for the next challenge, and I can’t wait to join my new teammates and
play my ⚽️ part in bringing success to Manchester United.”
Quick Guide How do I sign up
for sport breaking news alerts? Show Download ⚽️ the Guardian app from the iOS App Store
on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ⚽️ 'The Guardian'.
If you
already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
In the
Guardian app, tap ⚽️ the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear
icon), then Notifications.
Turn on sport notifications. Was ⚽️ this helpful? Thank you for
your feedback.
Antony scored 31 goals and recorded 27 assists in 134 appearances for
Ajax and ⚽️ São Paulo and has two goals and two assists in nine Brazil appearances. He won
a gold medal at the ⚽️ 2024 Olympics and two Eredivisie titles with Ajax.
United’s
football director, John Murtough, said: “Antony is one of the most exciting ⚽️ young
talents in European football and has exactly the right profile for the attacking,
dynamic team Erik is building. We ⚽️ have been especially impressed by his desire to join
Manchester United, and to be part of a long-term project to ⚽️ get the club back to the
levels of performance we all expect.”
It is understood Antony was on United’s list of
⚽️ prospective signings before Ten Hag was named as the incoming manager in late
April.
Martin Dubravka in a Manchester United shirt ⚽️ after joining on loan from
Newcastle. Photograph: Manchester United/Getty Images
Dubravka will be available for
the Arsenal game only if registered ⚽️ in time. The 33-year-old has 29 Slovakia caps and
has made more than 125 Premier League appearances.
He said: “To be ⚽️ joining Manchester
United is a special moment in my career and I can’t wait to get started and help the
⚽️ group achieve its ambitions. I am joining an excellent group of goalkeepers with lots
of experience in the Premier League, ⚽️ and I know that we will push and support each
other to keep our standards at the highest levels. The ⚽️ chance to work with David de
Gea, alongside Tom Heaton, is one that I am relishing.”
On Thursday night it was
⚽️ confirmed that James Garner had signed for Everton on a four-year deal.
