Football: David De Gea Signs for Manchester United

According to the club’s official website, Manchester United completed the signing of 20 year old Spanish goalkeeper, David De Gea, from Atletico Madrid, on the morning of Wednesday 29th June 2011.

The player, who recently lifted the European Under 21 Championships with his native Spain, had long been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Having completed a medical this week, De Gea is believed to have signed a five year contract with the Manchester club.

Having come through the Atletico ranks, De Gea made a great impression when forcing his way into the La Liga starting line-up in 2009. His move to United comes following the retirement of 40 year old goalkeeper, Edwin Van der Sar, whom United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to replace having enjoyed another successful season in 2010/11: United won the English Premier League and were runners up in the UEFA Champions League competition, losing to Barcelona at Wembley.

But De Gea will have stiff competition for a starting position at Old Trafford. Despite a transfer fee which is believed to be in the region of £18 million – if true, this would be the highest fee for a United goalkeeper – De Gea will have to push his way into the number one jersey ahead of the gifted Tomasz Kuszscak, who deputised well for Van der Sar, and November 2010 signing, 27 year old Danish stopper, Anders Lindegaard.

Speaking on the transfer, De Gea told the club’s website:

“I feel very proud and I can’t wait to start playing here,”

“It’s a great privilege to be part of a club like United and I’m keen to do my best and show what I can do.”

The player is the third summer signing ahead of the 2011/2012 campaign. De Gea joins Phil Jones and Ashley Young in the highest spending summer in recent years for United.

At 20 years old, De Gea has time on his side, his job, for now, is to establish himself as the United number one.


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