Amad Diallo is the first player to be signed by a club in the United Kingdom under the post-Brexit rules which forced him to obtain governing body exemption before he could apply for a UK visa.
Amad Diallo joined Manchester United from Atalanta for a transfer fee worth £19 million on Thursday, January 7, on a deal that will keep him at the club until 2025.
The 18-year-old Ivory Coast winger is Manchester United‘s first signing in the 2021 summer transfer window. His deal reportedly came with about £18.2 million in add-ons and an option to extend his contract with the club for one more year.
Ready to write the next chapter 📕#MUFC @AmadDiallo_19 pic.twitter.com/eSdXL5YXfX
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 8, 2021
Before he sealed the deal, Amad Diallo had made just 2 appearances for Atalanta in all competitions in the 2020-2021 season, one in Italian Serie A and the other in the UEFA Champions League.
Amad is expected to unite with Manchester United once all the necessary paperwork has been approved and he will not have to quarantine when he arrives in Manchester since he has been a part of Atalanta’s Bubble.
“Having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game,” said Manchester United’s coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“It will take time for him to adapt but his speed, vision, and fantastic dribbling ability will stand him in good stead to make the transition.
“He is a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United in the years to come.”
While Amad said: “The coaches have been fantastic since I signed, we have been in touch regularly and they have already given me a lot of great advice,” said Diallo.
“I have had time to prepare for this move, both physically and mentally, and I have worked hard to be ready to make the step up to this amazing club.”
Meanwhile, earlier today, January 8, 2021, Manchester United announced that Amad Diallo would wear shirt number 19 in the remaining part of the 2020-2021 season.
Nicky Butt, Edwin van der Sar, and Ronny Johnsen are some of Manchester United’s legends that have worn the shirt number during the early days of their career at the club.
“The 18-year-old will also have his first name, ‘Amad’, displayed on the back of his shirt”, Manchester United wrote on their official website.
“Diallo sported the no.79 in Italy, where he made an instant impact on his debut, scoring in a 7-1 win over Udinese just six minutes after coming off the bench.”
