Manchester United complete £35m signing of Alexis Sanchez

Manchester United have completed the deal to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal with the Chile international expected at the club’s Carrington training ground on Sunday evening.

Terms on the swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan were finalised on Saturday morning and Sanchez has travelled north to Manchester ahead of completing a medical on Sunday and agreeing terms on a lucrative four-and-a-half-year contract worth around £450,000 a week.

Sanchez was expected to undergo his medical on Saturday but United’s medical team were given the night off after attending the Burnley match.  

Manchester United have finally completed the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal

Sanchez is expected to arrive at Carrington between 5 and 6pm while his new team-mates have been given two days off ahead of next Friday’s FA Cup clash with Yeovil. Jose Mourinho has travelled to London to spend time at his family home.  

Although terms of the deal have been struck, both managers remained coy on the transfer in their respective post-match press conferences.

‘Expect soon or never,’ said boss Mourinho after his side’s victory over Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

‘So close, so close, so close, if it doesn’t happen it is not going to happen. I know my people doing absolutely everything they can. I think they will be successful.’ 

Mourinho’s Arsenal counterpart, Arsene Wenger, said: ‘Sanchez will only happen if Mkhitaryan comes here. That will be decided in the next 48 hours. It is a possibility.’

The Frenchman also admitted Sanchez missed Arsenal’s dismantling of Crystal Palace because he was ‘travelling up north’.

Sanchez said farewell to his Arsenal team-mates on Friday after training with them prior to their Premier league clash with Palace.

After being informed a breakthrough had been made after the session, Sanchez said his goodbyes and prepared for his move.  

Similarly, Mkhitaryan had made a tearful farewell to his United friends and staff prior to heading south to speak to Arsenal.

A deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, pictured at Carrington Friday, was finalised Saturday morning

A deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, pictured at Carrington Friday, was finalised Saturday morning

Jose Mourinho, pictured at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon, was keen to push through a deal

Jose Mourinho, pictured at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon, was keen to push through a deal

Sportsmail revealed the player had said an emotional goodbye after his final United training session on Friday. ‘It was very tearful,’ said a source. ‘Henrikh has been a very popular figure here at United. 

‘We know he isn’t too happy with the way this deal has been forced upon him.

‘He realises he has more chance of playing at Arsenal, but he would have preferred to leave on his own terms.’ 

United will pay a £20m transfer fee to Arsenal and £15m to the player’s agent Fernando Felicevich. 

The Chilean forward will earn a £350,000-a-week wage plus an extra £100,000 a week for image rights over the course of a four-and-a-half-year contract. 

He will also receive £7.5m a year for four years as a signing-on fee.

 



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