Manchester United have completed the signing of striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna on Thursday, according to the Italian journalist. Fabrizio RomanoThe 23-year-old Dutchman is the club’s first signing under the new management, who took over at the end of last season.
The same source reports that, despite Zirkzee having a €40 million (around R$236 million) release clause, the deal was closed at €42.5 million (R$251 million), paid over three years, since the cheaper clause was supposed to be paid upfront. He will sign a contract until 2029 with an option to extend for another year.
Zirkzee was one of the standout players in Bologna’s last season, as they finished fifth in the Italian league and qualified for the Champions League. In total, he scored 12 goals and provided six assists in all competitions for the team. The striker has also played for Bayern Munich, Parma and Anderlecht in his career.
The opening goal: Joshua Zirkzee 🔥#ForzaBFC #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/it6rk5LIHu
— Bologna FC 1909 (@Bolognafc1909) January 28, 2024
The player was playing alongside the Dutch national team in the Euros until Wednesday. He had not been called up in the first list, but was called up after injuries to Frenkie De Jong and Teun Koopmeiners in the run-up to the competition. He played for a few minutes only in the Netherlands’ quarter-final and semi-final matches against Turkey and England.
Zirkzee is expected to compete for a place with Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund, who joined United last season for just under double the Dutchman’s fee. Hojlund has made a poor start to his career at the club and failed to live up to manager Erik Ten Hag’s expectations.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
