Manchester United confirm they have signed Fred from Ukrainian Premier League side Shakhtar Donetsk. The midfielder has signed a long-term deal at Old Trafford and is expected to be one of many new arrivals procure by manager Jose Mourinho this summer.
Fred initially joined Shakhtar from Brazilian outfit Internacional in 2013 and has gone on to make 155 appearances in all competitions, scoring and creating 30 goals. The 25-year-old was a regular in his final season at the Donbass Arena, racking up 37 appearances across the board, as Shakhtar won back-to-back league titles.
United manager Jose Mourinho has been on the look-out for a new central midfielder this summer to replace Michael Carrick who hung up his boots at the end of the season. Marouane Fellaini could be leaving the club in the coming weeks too, which would have left the Red Devils short in the engine room.
But now Fred can join Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Scott McTominay as United’s central midfield options for next season. He’s combative player who could provide more protection to the backline to allow creative freedom to the likes of Pogba. United reportedly paid £52m to sign the Brazilian this summer.