Manchester United agree Robin van Persie deal

Robin van Persie

Manchester United have agreed to sign the Arsenal captain Robin van Persie, bringing one of the longest transfer sagas of the summer to a close.

The Dutchman will join United for a fee of £24million should he pass a medical and agree personal terms.

Last season’s Premier League top scorer had long been expected to leave the Gunners after announcing that he would not extend his contract in July.

His current deal runs out in June next year, and after also being linked to both Manchester City and Juventus the 29-year-old has finally got his wish to move to Old Trafford, where a potential strike partnership with Wayne Rooney will excite Manchester United fans.

"They [Rooney and Van Persie] are two fantastic players and it will be great to have both of them," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It gives us more strength and more combinations up front.

"It is a fantastic collection of players and hopefully I pick the right combinations.

"It is great to have a player of Robin van Persie's qualities to come into the squad. I am very pleased."

Van Persie scored 44 goals in 57 games for club and country last season, but he was left frustrated as the Gunners struggled to compete for honours and eventually finished third in the table.

The Dutchman joined Arsenal from Feyenoord in the summer of 2004, and despite frequent injury problems has scored 132 goals in 277 games for Arsene Wenger’s side.

He became club captain after the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona last summer, but now becomes the latest in a long line of high-profile players to turn their backs on the Emirates Stadium.

Mark Jones – follow me on twitter

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