Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Tyrell Malacia from Dutch side Feyenoord on a four-year contract worth €17m. The Netherlands international has become the first signing under new manager Erik ten Hag.
The 22-year-old left-back has been signed to provide competition for Luke Shaw, still seen as the starter in that position, and Alex Telles. He impressed Ten Hag while playing against Ajax, the manager’s previous team, last season.
Anyone else in the mood for Malacia? ❤
😉 @T_Malacia#MUFC || #WelkomTyrell pic.twitter.com/rdZs3FtMEL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 5, 2022
“It’s an incredible feeling to have joined Manchester United,” Malacia said. “This is a new chapter for me, a new league with new teammates and a tremendous manager leading us. I know from playing against his teams in the Eredivisie the qualities that he has and what he demands of his players.”
Born in Rotterdam, Malacia joined Feyenoord’s youth academy in 2008 at the age of nine and has been at the club for the last 14 years. He helped them win the KNVB Cup in 2018. Last season, he was named in the UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season after Feyenoord lost to Roma in the final. He has also made five senior appearances for the Netherlands.
The speedy full-back had looked set to join French side Lyon in the early days of the transfer window, but United came in and made a decisive bid for the highly-rated prospect. Ten Hag is reportedly a fan of his pace and aggression, as well as what he can bring to the attack.
Erik ten Hag can tick Tyrell Malacia off his transfer wishlist ☑️ pic.twitter.com/EoEkKmtkTM
— GOAL (@goal) July 5, 2022
Malacia hopes his switch to the Red Devils will earn him a place in the Dutch squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He is expected to be on the plane to Bangkok on Friday as part of United’s squad for the start of the pre-season tour.
United fans are hoping that Malacia is the first of a host of signings in the coming weeks. Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is said to have verbally agreed a deal with them. Negotiations for Ten Hag’s top midfield target Frenkie de Jong are also progressing. The club also has Ajax duo Antony and Lisandro Martinez firmly on their radar.
The departure of Dean Henderson on loan to Nottingham Forest means they are also in the market for a second-choice goalkeeper, with Watford’s Daniel Bachmann a target. And if, as reported earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo does leave the club, they will also be on the lookout for a striker.