OFFICIAL: Mason Mount Leaves Chelsea To Sign For Man United. He Will Wear The Iconic Number For The Red Devils.

 Manchester United have officially complete the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea for for an initial £55m transfer fee.

The chase of Mount has been ongoing for a number of weeks with United even threatening to back out of the deal at one point when the Blues wanted too much money (£70m).

Mount on the other hand, refused to extend his Chelsea contract despite an improved offer under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.

He emerged as a star man in west London following his breakthrough 2019/20 campaign. 

United and Chelsea finally reached an agreement on a deal which could rise to £60m depending on success and appearances over several seasons.

One of the incentives for the £5 million add-ons includes United having to lift either the Premier League or Champions League with Mount in the squad.

The 24-year-old signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford that runs until the summer of 2028 and has the option to be extended by a further year.

Mount becomes United's first summer signing and the transfer brings his 18-year stay with Chelsea, during which he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, to an end.

United boss Erik ten Hag has been a long time admirer of Mason Mount after scoring against his Ajax team while he was on-loan at Vitesse Arnhem since March 2018.

Ten Hag was in charge of just his eighth game then at Ajax, and reportedly tried to sign Mount for the Dutch club on loan from Chelsea the following season. 

Mount bid his farewell message to Chelsea fans in a social media video on Tuesday evening and leaves Stamford Bridge having scored 33 goals and providing 37 assists in 195 appearances for the Blues in all competitions (58 goals, 53 assists in 279 total club appearances). He was Chelsea’s Player of the Year for both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.

He has 36 caps for England and played a key role in his country’s run to the European Championship final in 2021.

BREAKING: Mason Mount has released a video thanking Chelsea fans ahead of his imminent move to Manchester United 🔵🙌 pic.twitter.com/edCyu8XLGX

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 4, 2023

 

"It's never easy leaving the club where you grew up, but Manchester United will provide an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career.... Said Mount following the completion of the transfer.

"Having competed against them, I know just how strong a squad it is that I'm joining, and I can't wait to be part of this group's drive to win major trophies... He added.

"Everyone can see that the club has made big steps forward under Erik ten Hag. Having met with the manager and discussed his plans, I couldn't be more excited for the seasons ahead and am ready for the hard work expected here.

"I am hugely ambitious; I know how amazing it feels to win major trophies and what it takes to do it. I will be giving everything to experience that again at Manchester United."

Mount will wear the legendary and iconic No.7 shirt for the Red Devils.

The number has been vacant since Cristiano Ronaldo departed last wore it before departing for Saudi side Al-Nassr in January. 

The Red Devils had considered handing the famous number to youngster Alejandro Garnacho, but it has been handed over to Chelsea academy graduate Mount, a decision which left some of the club fans so disappointed.

They felt there would be a reshuffle at Old Trafford which will see Raphael Varane move to the number four shirt and Mount wear 19, which he wore at Stamford Bridge, while Garnacho would be upgraded from the number 49 and take his rightful place as Ronaldo's successor in the seven shirt.

However, the young Argentine who signed a new contract last month, will now have to keep his current squad number or find a different one.

Mount had previously worn the No. 7 previously in his career. The midfielder has used the number while playing for England and also as a youngster, featuring for Chelsea's Under-23 side during the 2016-17 season.

He will now follow in the foosteps of legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Bryan Robson who have all flourished wearing the number.

But in recent years, many big names have found it hard to impress in the iconic No.7 at Old Trafford, Micheal Owen, Angel Di Maria, Antonio Valencia, Memphis Depay, Edinson Cavani and Alexis Sanchez.

United fans will be hoping that Mount can live up to expectations and deliver in one of the most famous shirts in world football. 

Mount will now link up with his new team-mates and will hope to make his Premier League debut for his new club when they take on Wolves on the opening weekend of the new season.