Eric Bailly has been confirmed as Jose Mourinho's first Manchester United signing after the Villarreal defender passed his medical at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old, who has only played 40 top-flight matches in his fledgling career, joins on a four-year deal subject to obtaining a work permit and cost United a fee of £30million.
Speaking to the club's official website after the move was confirmed, Bailly said: 'It is a dream come true to be joining Manchester United. To play football at the highest level is all I have ever wanted to do. 'I am really happy to be here at the biggest club in the world.'
'I want to progress to be the best that I can be and I believe working with Jose Mourinho will help me develop in the right way and at the right club. I am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and to starting this new chapter of my life.'
The Ivory Coast international had previously been watched by Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, but opted for Old Trafford and Mourinho this summer.
The Portuguese manager also had his say on the new defender, noting: 'Eric is a young central defender with great natural talent. He has progressed well to date and has the potential to become one of the best around.
'We look forward to working with him to help nurture that raw talent and fulfil his potential. Eric is at the right club to continue his development.'
Speaking to MUTV upon his arrival, Bailly said he felt honoured to be Mourinho's first signing: 'It’s really special. First and foremost as a young player it’s a confidence boost that a manager with so much experience of English football has trusted in me by making me his first signing.'
The deal was confirmed by Manchester United's Twitter account, and the fee sees Villarreal make a huge profit on the £4.4m they paid Espanyol for Bailly in January 2015.
The central defender is exceptionally highly-rated and his former Espanyol coach Manolo Marquez insisted: 'I'm absolutely convinced that he'd be a success in England.
'He's similar to Sergio Ramos and while he's not as good technically, he's much stronger. Mourinho would be good for Eric because Mourinho always has his defences very well organised. He's also the type of very strong defender he likes to work with.'
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