The signing of Patrick Dorgu by Manchester United has been confirmed.
Before the January transfer window ended, Ruben Amorim was in critical need of a left-back to bolster his team.
Additionally, he has the adaptable Lecce man as his man.
Dorgu, 20, joins Old Trafford on a five-and-a-half-year contract with a one-year extension option.
According to SunSport, United has already paid £25 million for the defender, and an additional £4 million will be paid if he fulfills performance-related add-ons.
He wrote: “This is a very special day for my whole family; I am incredibly proud to be able to call myself a Manchester United player.”
“I am so excited to collaborate with Ruben Amorim; his outlook on this team and the club’s future is truly inspiring.”
“My development has a well-defined plan, and I believe Manchester United is the ideal setting for me to reach my full potential and realize my lofty goals.”
After Lecce’s match against Parma on Friday night, when he was an unused substitute, he bid his teammates farewell.
The defender was then seen at Milan airport on Saturday morning before a journey to Manchester for his Red Devils medical. He will play as a wing-back in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.
Earlier in the week before personal terms and the last checks were completed, a fee agreement was struck.
It is a good boost for United, who have been without Luke Shaw due to injury, while Tyrell Malacia and Noussair Mazraoui have not performed up to par.
With the completion of the Dorgu trade, Malacia is expected to depart on loan.
Dorgu earned his senior debut at the start of the previous season after joining Lecce in 2022.
He has made 57 appearances for the Serie A team and contributed five goals.
After progressing through all youth levels starting with the Under-18s, the 6′ 2″ star, who can play left-back, wing-back, or even as a winger, has four caps and one goal for Denmark.
The emerging star was advised by his former management to turn down a move to United, though.
When Dorgu was a member of Denmark’s U19 team, he was coached by Jens Fonnskov Olsen.
“If I have to be a little cheeky, I hope he chooses something other than Manchester United right now,” he told Tipsbladet prior to the agreement being finalized.
“They’re simply going through a phase where… I’m not sure if it’s a horrible fit. Perhaps somewhere with a bit more structure and where things fit with his pace, but I’m not sure if you can afford to turn United down.
“If you can put it that way, sometimes things have to happen in the correct order.
“The thing is that there are many paths to the goal.”
Olsen did, however, add the following about what Red Devils supporters might anticipate from Dorgu as a player: “Patrick is quick, forward-thinking, capable of heading both offensively and defensively, and he has an extremely good left foot.
“He has received excellent instruction at Lecce, particularly in the defensive aspect of the game, where he might have fallen short.
“He plays with creativity. That I brought him in and simply had faith in him makes me very happy.
“I am really happy for him, in terms of how his career has developed.”
He is one of Amorim’s first signings in management, following Ayden Heaven to Old Trafford.
The talented 18-year-old center back chose to sign a deal with the Red Devils through 2029 over a professional contract at Arsenal.
Heaven declared: “Joining Manchester United makes me feel so proud.
“I want to express my gratitude to everyone who made this dream possible.
“I want to accomplish so much in the game, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep improving and become the best player I can be.”