Author: Stretford-End
According to The Sun and BBC, Shinji Kagawa has signed a £12m deal with Manchester United from German champions Borussia Dortmund. Manutd.com has also confirmed the transfer in the last few hours. It is being reported that the Japanese playmaker will complete the move at the end of the month once all the formalities of a work permit have been finalised.
Kagawa is 23 years old and signed for Dortmund in 2010 from Japanese side Cerezo Osaka. Last season, Kagawa notched up 21 goals in 49 appearances – a very good return from a midfielder. He made his debut for the Japanese national side in 2008 and has played 30 times for his country, scoring 10 goals. Under the guidance of well respect Jürgen Klopp, Kagawa and his teammates at Dortmund have won back to back Bundesliga titles, whilst also picking up the 2011/12 Germany Cup. Dortmund thrashed Bayern Munich 5-2, with Kagawa getting on the scoresheet in the third minute.
Manchester United have been crying out for a creative midfielder for some time, with failed attempts last season to sign Wesley Snijder and Samir Nasri. This summer started off with Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard opting to sign for Chelsea over Manchester United, but Sir Alex Ferguson looks to have pulled off an astute piece of business in signing the talented Japanese star. Rio Ferdinand, who was amazingly overlooked again for the Euro 2012 England squad, tweeted a message of welcome to United’s latest recruit: