By Alex Al-Kazzaz
The Mason Mount move is officially complete. Last week, Manchester United and Chelsea agreed to terms on a fee of £55 million($69.4 million) with an additional add-on of £5 million($6.3 million). Earlier this week, Mount arrived in Manchester to undergo medical tests. Now, the 24-year-old midfielder has officially signed with Manchester United. The deal is through 2028.
Mount spent 18 years with Chelsea. In a total of 195 appearances, Mount scored 33 goals and provided 37 assists. He helped Chelsea win its second UEFA Champions League in 2021, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup that same year. Mount departed Stamford Bridge with one year remaining on his contract, making him Man United's first signing of the summer.
This move is a huge opportunity for both Mount and Man United. After Chelsea's shocking UCL triumph in 2021, the club soon began a major downward spiral. This season, for the first time 2016-17 season, the club will not compete in both the Champions League and the Europa League. Therefore, in Mount's case, this was the chance for him to move on, with the opportunity for him to take his skills and talents to the next level.
For Man United, this is an opportunity to bulk up their midfield. Injuries last season took a significant toll on the club, and the midfield was severely affected. Casemiro, Antony, Christian Eriksen, and Bruno Fernandes give Man United perhaps the best midfield set on paper. Still, the club needs its talent to be healthy and effective to get the results they need to win and keep winning. Adding Mount to the mix increases the midfield's potential this season. In addition, Mount can benefit very well from learning from Casemiro, Fernandes, and Eriksen.
Considering the club took a significant risk by paying a total of £60 million for Mount, they cannot afford this to be another failed experiment. Later this month, the club will begin its pre-season tour in the United States, and Mount will travel with the team. Now that he's officially part of Man United, he is ready to get started with the Red Devils.
On the 22nd, Man United will play Arsenal in an exhibition at MetLife Stadium in New York.