Daily Record: Man Utd agreed a £55m fee for Wan Bissaka with Crystal Palace for the transfer

Manchester United accepted a fee with Crystal Palace for the transfer of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the agreement values   Wan-Bissaka at £55 million, a worldwide record sum for a specialist.

After a series of rejected proposals from United, the deal for England's U21s that completed their second season of football last month beats the 57.5  million euros that Manchester City paid to AS Monaco for Benjamin Mendy two summers ago.

It also ensures that United have both right-back and left-back bought from domestic rivals for record rates.

Luke Shaw - who started only 66 Premier League games in his five seasons at Old Trafford - cost the club a record fee for a £30m teenage defender when he arrived from Southampton in 2014.


In preparation for his first full coaching campaign, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer asked United to prioritize the addition of a first-class right to a defender who had 54 goals in 38 league matches last season, the club's highest total in 40 years . Only the relegated duo of Fulham and Huddersfield kept fewer clean sheets in the Premier League; with United's last game under the Solskjaer in February, 15 games ago.

Developed by the Palace's academy, Wan-Bissaka made its senior debut in February 2018, quickly establishing itself as the right-back first choice. A quick, athletic and aggressive supporter, he started 38 matches last season and was credited with four assists. The 21-year-old has yet to score a goal in the domestic competition.

The Wan-Bissaka rate is not the most expensive agreed for a defender in the transfer window this summer. Bayern Munich are paying for Atletico Madrid €80m by Lucas Hernandez, who won the World Cup by playing back to France but generally operates in the center of defense in the club's football.

"Juan is the best professional and one of the smartest players I've worked with," said Solskjaer. "He is a great example for our younger players in his approach. He was aware of what it means to be a Manchester United player and has embraced everything about this great club."

In addition to everything he has on the pitch, we have some fantastic players here and I know that Juan's vast experience will help them reach their potential in the coming seasons.

"I'm very happy he signed a new contract because I know his talent and mentality will be invaluable for the team."

United also signed a two-year contract extension with Juan Mata, with the option of extending for another season until 2021. Mata, 31, was a free agent this summer  but his preference was to remain in English football and Solskjaer wanted to keep the attacking midfield experience in a restructured first team.