Manchester United sign Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund
27-year-old Armenian was voted Bundesliga's player of the season for the 2015-2016 campaign
Henrikh Mkhitaryan becomes the first Armenian to join Manchester United. PHOTO: AFP
BERLIN:
Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan became Jose Mourinho's third signing of the close season for Manchester United on Saturday, the midfielder's German club Borussia Dortmund announced.
However, whilst Dortmund announced he was leaving, it is believed he has yet to pass a medical and agree personal terms with United.
The 27-year-old, who would join Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly and veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as new faces at United, was given a curt farewell by Dortmund after ending his three-year stay in a deal worth around 42 million euros ($46.8 million).
Swedish striker Ibrahimovic says he is joining Manchester United
Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said he and the club were put in an unenviable position as Mkhitaryan had just a year left on his contract.
"Manchester made us an enormous offer. If we had rejected it, the player could have left for free in 2017," said Watzke.
The official club statement did not mention the player by name as he followed German World Cup-winning defender and club captain Mats Hummels and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in leaving the club this summer -- the former to arch-rivals Bayern Munich and the latter to join former Bayern coach Pep Guardiola at English side Manchester City.
Dortmund fans have got used to the draining of their star names with the likes of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski and Mario Goetze leaving for Bayern among other big name departures in years gone by.
"After intensive discussions BVB have complied with the wishes of the Armenian national team player to join Manchester United," read the statement.
Mkhitaryan, who cost Dortmund $33 million when they signed him from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, had a stellar season last term, scoring 23 goals and creating another 32 in all competitions, as Borussia finished runners-up to Bayern in Germany's top flight.
But his agent confirmed at the beginning of last month they rejected Dortmund's attempts to extend his contract.
Manchester United appoint Jose Mourinho as manager
Earlier, French club PSG's star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic also joined United.
The 34-year-old striker will link up again with his former Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
The Swedish striker, in an interview yesterday, said: "Wherever we go [me and Jose Mourinho], we win and we will win at Manchester United”.
United, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League, are yet to confirm the move about Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan became Jose Mourinho's third signing of the close season for Manchester United on Saturday, the midfielder's German club Borussia Dortmund announced.
However, whilst Dortmund announced he was leaving, it is believed he has yet to pass a medical and agree personal terms with United.
The 27-year-old, who would join Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly and veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as new faces at United, was given a curt farewell by Dortmund after ending his three-year stay in a deal worth around 42 million euros ($46.8 million).
Swedish striker Ibrahimovic says he is joining Manchester United
Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said he and the club were put in an unenviable position as Mkhitaryan had just a year left on his contract.
"Manchester made us an enormous offer. If we had rejected it, the player could have left for free in 2017," said Watzke.
The official club statement did not mention the player by name as he followed German World Cup-winning defender and club captain Mats Hummels and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in leaving the club this summer -- the former to arch-rivals Bayern Munich and the latter to join former Bayern coach Pep Guardiola at English side Manchester City.
Dortmund fans have got used to the draining of their star names with the likes of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski and Mario Goetze leaving for Bayern among other big name departures in years gone by.
"After intensive discussions BVB have complied with the wishes of the Armenian national team player to join Manchester United," read the statement.
Mkhitaryan, who cost Dortmund $33 million when they signed him from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, had a stellar season last term, scoring 23 goals and creating another 32 in all competitions, as Borussia finished runners-up to Bayern in Germany's top flight.
But his agent confirmed at the beginning of last month they rejected Dortmund's attempts to extend his contract.
Manchester United appoint Jose Mourinho as manager
Earlier, French club PSG's star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic also joined United.
The 34-year-old striker will link up again with his former Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
The Swedish striker, in an interview yesterday, said: "Wherever we go [me and Jose Mourinho], we win and we will win at Manchester United”.
United, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League, are yet to confirm the move about Henrikh Mkhitaryan.