Aaron Wan-Bissaka has officially joined Manchester United after the club confirmed his £50m deal on Saturday morning.
The young England Under-21 international moves to Old Trafford with a blossoming reputation, but the transfer comes with its own added pressure as he wears the price tag of equalling the biggest deal for an English defender in matching Kyle Walker’s move from Tottenham to Manchester City.
Wan-Bissaka also makes the switch after just one season in the Premier League, representing a large risk vs reward move by United who are looking to revamp their squad under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 21-year-old arrives as a direct replacement for Antonio Valencia, but it appears that he will not take the former United captain’s old shirt number, meaning the No 25 remains vacant for now.
And while United are yet to officially confirmed which shirt number Wan-Bissaka will wear, it appears that he will continue to wear the one that he took on at Crystal Palace in the form of the No 29 shirt.
1/11 David de Gea
Arguably United’s most important player, yet De Gea suffered from indifferent spells of form last season and will enter the new campaign amid uncertainty over his future. Not expected to leave this summer despite his contract expiring next summer.
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2/11 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
United’s primary summer target, Wan-Bissaka will fill a problem position if his £50m transfer form Crystal Palace is completed as expected. The 21-year-old’s arrival represents a shift towards a more long-term approach in the market.
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3/11 Victor Lindelof
Enjoyed something of a renaissance last season. Easily the most consistent and impressive of United’s centre-halves, he is the only one whose starting place is safe from the threat of new arrivals in defence.
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4/11 Harry Maguire
Coveted by Jose Mourinho last summer, United still admire Maguire’s blend of physical defending and ability to play out of the back. Manchester City are also interested in the England international and may win the race.
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5/11 Luke Shaw
Began last season on the fringes of the squad, ended as United’s player of the year. The best of a bad bunch? Maybe. But Shaw deserves credit for turning his Old Trafford career around and becoming the undisputed first-choice left back.
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6/11 Scott McTominay
Emerged as a consistent and reliable presence in the second half of last season, which is more than can be said for several of his midfield colleagues. Questions remain but deserves an opportunity to fully establish himself.
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7/11 Sean Longstaff
A surprising name but another young, homegrown target that has caught Solskjaer’s eye. Longstaff is in no rush to leave his boyhood club Newcastle United, having only broke into the side at Christmas, but United have not lost hope of getting their way.
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8/11 Bruno Fernandes
One of the most-wanted players in Europe this summer, following a return of 32 goals and 18 assists last year. Fernandes would ease the pain of losing Paul Pogba, though Sporting will ask for a hefty price.
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9/11 Daniel James
United’s first summer signing has much to prove before becoming Solskjaer’s first-choice on the right wing, though his speed and fondness for direct, counter-attacking football suit his manager’s style down to the ground.
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10/11 Marcus Rashford
It became clear early on in Solskjaer’s reign that Rashford was his preferred option up front. The academy graduate repaid him with six goals in 10 games but his form quickly faltered. A first 20-goal season may be required.
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11/11 Anthony Martial
Provided glimpses of his talent and potential, particularly following Solskjaer’s appointment, but tailed off worryingly once his future was settled with a new contract at the end of January. Appears well suited to this new-look United but must deliver consistently.
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1/11 David de Gea
Arguably United’s most important player, yet De Gea suffered from indifferent spells of form last season and will enter the new campaign amid uncertainty over his future. Not expected to leave this summer despite his contract expiring next summer.
Getty Images
2/11 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
United’s primary summer target, Wan-Bissaka will fill a problem position if his £50m transfer form Crystal Palace is completed as expected. The 21-year-old’s arrival represents a shift towards a more long-term approach in the market.
Getty Images
3/11 Victor Lindelof
Enjoyed something of a renaissance last season. Easily the most consistent and impressive of United’s centre-halves, he is the only one whose starting place is safe from the threat of new arrivals in defence.
Getty Images
4/11 Harry Maguire
Coveted by Jose Mourinho last summer, United still admire Maguire’s blend of physical defending and ability to play out of the back. Manchester City are also interested in the England international and may win the race.
Getty Images
5/11 Luke Shaw
Began last season on the fringes of the squad, ended as United’s player of the year. The best of a bad bunch? Maybe. But Shaw deserves credit for turning his Old Trafford career around and becoming the undisputed first-choice left back.
Getty Images
6/11 Scott McTominay
Emerged as a consistent and reliable presence in the second half of last season, which is more than can be said for several of his midfield colleagues. Questions remain but deserves an opportunity to fully establish himself.
Getty Images
7/11 Sean Longstaff
A surprising name but another young, homegrown target that has caught Solskjaer’s eye. Longstaff is in no rush to leave his boyhood club Newcastle United, having only broke into the side at Christmas, but United have not lost hope of getting their way.
Getty Images
8/11 Bruno Fernandes
One of the most-wanted players in Europe this summer, following a return of 32 goals and 18 assists last year. Fernandes would ease the pain of losing Paul Pogba, though Sporting will ask for a hefty price.
Getty Images
9/11 Daniel James
United’s first summer signing has much to prove before becoming Solskjaer’s first-choice on the right wing, though his speed and fondness for direct, counter-attacking football suit his manager’s style down to the ground.
Getty Images
10/11 Marcus Rashford
It became clear early on in Solskjaer’s reign that Rashford was his preferred option up front. The academy graduate repaid him with six goals in 10 games but his form quickly faltered. A first 20-goal season may be required.
Getty Images
11/11 Anthony Martial
Provided glimpses of his talent and potential, particularly following Solskjaer’s appointment, but tailed off worryingly once his future was settled with a new contract at the end of January. Appears well suited to this new-look United but must deliver consistently.
Getty Images
It means he will follow in the footsteps of his former Palace teammate Wilfried Zaha, who wore the No 29 during his ill-fated and short-lived time at Old Trafford.
Other players to have worn the No 29 shirt are James Wilson, goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, Jonathan Spector, Alex Notman, Michael Appleton and Ben Thorley, meaning that Wan-Bissaka becomes just the eighth player to wear the shirt in the Premier League era.
Speaking after completing his record-equalling transfer, Wan-Bissaka said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling and an honour to call myself a Manchester United player and something I know that only a small number of players have the privilege to say.
“I can’t wait to get going and integrated into the squad. I will have a short break now after the European Championships but I’m looking forward to starting training with the manager and my new team-mates on the pre-season tour.”
His new manager, Solskjaer, added: “Aaron is one of the best upcoming defenders in the Premier League. He has the right work ethic, talent and mentality to play for Manchester United and he fits exactly the type of player that we are looking to bring into the squad to help us improve and push on further.
“Aaron is a young, hungry player and eager to learn and that’s important at his age. I am delighted he has signed with us and we look forward to continuing his tremendous development so far.”
