Mount signs five-year deal with Red Devils
Manchester United have completed the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea. Mount, 24, is Erik ten Hag’s first signing of the summer in a deal worth an initial £55m, plus a possible £5m in add-ons. He has signed a five-year contract with the option for a further year.
Mount will wear the iconic number seven shirt at Old Trafford. It was famously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo as well as club legends David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson. Ten Hag offered Mount the number to underline how much the England midfielder was wanted at Old Trafford.
Chelsea cash in to ease FFP worries
Chelsea rejected the Red Devils’ first three bids for Mount before an agreement was reached. The Blues spent £600m last season and needed to sell to ease Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns, especially with the absence of Champions League football after a 12th place finish in the Premier League, their worst placing for over 25 years. Mount came through the Pensioners’ academy and, although the club preferred not to lose a homegrown player, a failure to negotiate a new contract with his deal set to run out in 2024, coupled with the FFP issue meant that a transfer made sense.
Mount missed the end of last season through injury. He scored 33 goals in 195 appearances for Chelsea since making his senior debut in 2019. He was part of the England squad at the 2022 World Cup and has been capped 36 times by his country, scoring five goals.
Mount attracted to Old Trafford switch by Ten Hag’s Plans
Mason Mount said Erik ten Hag’s plans for Manchester United convinced him to leave his boyhood club.
Mount said: “Having met with the manager, and discussed his plans, I couldn’t be more excited for the seasons ahead.”
“Everyone can see that the club has made big steps forward under Erik ten Hag. I am hugely ambitious; I know how amazing it feels to win major trophies and what it takes to do it. I will be giving everything to experience that again at Manchester United.”
Mount continued: “It’s never easy leaving the club where you grew up, but Manchester United will provide an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career,”
“Having competed against them, I know just how strong a squad it is that I’m joining, and I can’t wait to be part of this group’s drive to win major trophies.”
“Intelligent footballer” Mount a “perfect fit”
United believe that Mount’s style of play and strengths fit with how the club want to play. Ten Hag’s side finished third last season and won the EFL Cup. The Dutchman is keen to push the club to the next level and the capture of Mount is seen as being key to this
Manchester United football director John Murtough stated: “Mason is an extremely intelligent footballer and has so many fantastic technical qualities that will significantly add to our squad.
“We have admired his talents for a long time, so we are delighted that he has chosen to take the next steps in his career here at Old Trafford.
“His style of play and attributes are a perfect fit for this squad, and we all believe that he will only improve further working with Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff.”
