MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United has reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk to sign Brazil midfielder Fred, the Premier League club said Tuesday.
United issued a short statement on its website to announce the deal but did not provide any further details. British media reported that the transfer is worth more than 50 million pounds ($67 million), with Fred signing a five-year contract.
United only said that "a further announcement will be made in due course" about the club’s first signing of the transfer window.
Fred’s arrival will strengthen manager Jose Mourinho’s midfield option after the retirement of Michael Carrick, and with Marouane Fellaini’s future at the club still uncertain.
Fred joined Shakhtar from Brazilian club Internacional in 2013 and quickly made a name for himself as a tough holding midfielder who is also good in possession. He was included in Brazil’s Copa America squad in 2014, but tested positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide at the tournament. He was initially suspended for a year, but he was eventually only banned for four months between March and July 2017.
Fred has made eight appearances for Brazil and has been included in the team’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia.
He spent Tuesday training with the rest of the Brazil team at their training camp in London.
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