Harry Maguire joins Manchester United as world’s most expensive defender
Harry Maguire has become the most expensive defender in world football after Manchester United confirmed his £80m transfer from Leicester. The England international has signed a six-year contract with an option for a further 12 months at Old Trafford after passing a medical.
“I am delighted to have signed for this great club,” he said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leicester and would like to thank everyone at the club and the fans for their fantastic support over the past two seasons. However, when Manchester United come knocking on your door, it is an incredible opportunity.
“From my conversations with the manager, I am excited about the vision and plans he has for the team. It’s clear to see that Ole [Gunnar Solskjær] is building a team to win trophies. I am now looking forward to meeting my new teammates and getting the season started.”
His fee eclipses the £75m Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk in 2018 and gives Leicester a considerable profit on the £17m deal that brought Maguire from Hull City two years ago. Manchester City were also interested in the 26-year-old centre-half but, as Pep Guardiola explained after the Community Shield victory on Sunday, the Premier League champions refused to meet Leicester’s valuation of a player capped 20 times by England.
