MANCHESTER UNITED SIGN MIDFIELDER MASON MOUNT FROM CHELSEA FOR £55 MILLION
Manchester United have signed England international midfielder Mason Mount, the club announced on Wednesday.
Mount arrives at Old Trafford on a £55 million deal plus an additional £5 million in total add-ons. The 24-year-old signed a five-year deal on Wednesday morning that is slated to keep him in West Manchester until June 30th, 2028. The deal also includes an additional option for a further year. The versatile midfielder had one year left on his contract at Chelsea and moved on only two seasons removed from winning the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with the club.
A graduate of Chelsea’s Category One-graded Academy, Mason Mount announced his departure from the club with a video to Chelsea fans, released on social media on Tuesday night. “Hi, Chelsea fans,” said Mount. “Given the speculation over the last six months, this may not come as a surprise to you. But it doesn’t make it any easier to tell you that I’ve made the decision to leave Chelsea.”
“I feel you deserve more than just a written statement. So I wanted to tell you directly how grateful I’ve been for all of your support over the last 18 years. I know some of you won’t be happy with my decision, but it’s what’s right for me at this moment in my career.”
The 2020/21 Premier League Academy Graduate of the Year thanked all the staff, managers and coaches at the club and academy that were influential in his young career, including managers Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel, and Graham Potter. Mount has made 281 club appearances over his career, scoring 58 goals and providing a whopping 53 assists.
The Portsmouth-born midfielder made a total of 195 appearances for the blues in his four available years at the club, scoring 33 goals in that spell. Mount also scooped up Chelsea Player of the Year awards in two of the four seasons at the club.
In a statement on Manchester United’s website, Mount said: “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.”
Mount also revealed he had noticed the strides the club made under new manager Erik ten Hag and had met with the Dutchman to discuss his plans. “I am hugely ambitious,” said Mount. “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.”
Manchester United football director John Murtough said in a statement about the young English midfielder: “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 has chosen to take the next steps in his career here at Old Trafford.”
“We were particularly impressed by Mason Mount’s strong desire to join United, and his thirst for further success, as we push to drive up our performance levels next season and beyond.”
A technically gifted midfielder who’s always keen to get on the ball, advance it, create chances and provide link up play with the players around him, Mason Mount is expected to take to Erik ten Hag’s system like a fish to water. In a midfield where the versatile 24-year-old can play anywhere from the wings to the slightly deeper number 8 role to the more traditional number 10, Mount should thrive in Ten Hag’s typical system of attacking football and playing on the front foot.
A 20-year-old debutant for England’s national team back in 2019, Mount will wear the iconic no.7 jersey at United, previously won by some of the best players to ever don United’s colors. United’s number 7 jersey has been won by 1968 Ballon D’or winner George Best, Premier League Hall of Famers Eric Cantona and David Beckham, and most recently, five-time Ballon D’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mount is United’s first signing of the summer and isn’t expected to be the lone new arrival at Carrington before the transfer window shuts on the 1st of September. The Red Devils are reportedly interested in acquiring Inter Milan goalkeeper and former no.1 under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, Andre Onana.
As per European journalist, Fabrizio Romano, United presented a verbal proposal to Inter for the 27-year-old goalkeeper on Wednesday morning, quoting a £39 million total package, including add ons. The Italian giants, however, want a fee in the region of €60 million (£51.275 million) for the Cameroonian shot stopper and an agreement is still yet to be reached at this stage.
With the addition of Mason Mount to the squad this summer, many people will be curious to see how much the team invests in the transfer market this year. Although most of the squad from last season is still expected to be at the club in 2023/24, new manager Erik ten Hag has previously spoken about adding quality and the need for consistent improvement.
Manchester United will be glad to get one of the league’s best players, but their fans will be itching for more, especially with the club’s aspirations to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal for the Premier League title next season.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Brian Minkoff London-Pixels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.