Manchester United have confirmed the £71million arrival of Bryan Mbeumo despite Chelsea reportedly making a late attempt to hijack a move. The Red Devils have also beaten Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle to the signing of the Brentford star.
After two unsuccessful bids, United finally clinched the deal with their third offer of £65m plus an additional £6m in performance-related add-ons, some eight weeks after their initial approach. Despite Brentford’s reported attempts to steer Mbeumo towards Tottenham or Newcastle the 25-year-old forward remained steadfast in his desire to join United, informing Brentford he would not consider moving elsewhere. The Mirror reports that Chelsea even attempted a late hijack. Brentford initially demanded a fee of £70m plus £7m in add-ons, but United successfully negotiated a lower final fee, with the add-ons tied to a combination of team and individual accomplishments.
It has also come to light that Brentford attempted to persuade Mbeumo to lower his wage demands to boost the transfer fee they would receive. Mbeumo is set to join the rest of the United squad on Tuesday for their pre-season tour of the US and is expected to make his debut on Saturday against West Ham at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
The Cameroon international has penned a contract until June 2030, with the option of an extra year, and will reportedly bank £200,000 a week.
Bryan Mbeumo told United’s website: “As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams – the team whose shirt I wore growing up.
“My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday. I know that I have the spirit and character to reach another level here, learning from Ruben Amorim and playing alongside world-class players.”
“Everybody told me about the environment that is being created here and how exciting the plans are for the future. This is a massive club, with an incredible stadium and amazing fans, we are all really determined to challenge for the biggest trophies.”
Mbeumo scored 20 Premier League goals last season and became a major target for most top European clubs. United’s Director of Football Jason Wilcox added: “Bryan’s goals and assists record in the Premier League is exceptional, his remarkable consistency has put him amongst the most productive players in England for the last three seasons.
“Bryan’s belief in our project and determination to join the club confirmed that he was the perfect fit for Manchester United and the culture that we are developing. We are delighted to have secured another one of our primary targets ahead of the pre-season tour. The experience in the US will be the perfect opportunity for Bryan to work with Ruben and his new team-mates as we prepare for an exciting season ahead.”