Manchester United confirm £42.7m deal with Real Madrid for Raphaël Varane

Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid to sign the centre-back Raphaël Varane.

Having completed the signing of Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho in a £73m deal last week, the 28-year-old is set to be the next arrival.

United said in a statement: “Manchester United is delighted to announce the club has reached agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of French international defender and World Cup winner, Raphaël Varane, subject to a medical and to player terms being finalised.”

It is not expected that Varane would be able to undergo a medical until next week due to current UK coronavirus travel restrictions. The fee is €50m (£42.7m) and the defender will sign a four-year contract with an option for another 12 months.

Varane won four Champions League titles during a medal-laden stay at the Bernabéu and was a key part of the France side that lifted the World Cup in 2018.

United had been interested in the defender before he joined Madrid from Lens in 2011, making 360 appearances across all competitions in Spain.

Varane joins Harry Maguire – the world’s most expensive defender – Victor Lindelöf, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe as Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s centre-back options.