Bastian Schweinsteiger has completed his transfer to Manchester United from Bayern Munich.
[ MORE: Schneiderlin signs for United ]
The German national team captain, 30, has signed a three-year contract and arrives from Bayern for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of $20 million.
[ MORE: Begovic signs for Chelsea ]
Schweinsteiger has been at Bayern for his entire career and made his debut for the Bavarian club in 2002, where he made 500 appearances and scored 70 times as he adapted his role from an attacking midfielder to a holding central midfielder, plus won 22 major trophies with the German giants.
A year to the day that Schweinsteiger won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, he is now a United player.
Speaking for the first time as a Manchester United player, Schweinsteiger is delighted to have sealed his switch to Old Trafford.“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bayern Munich, it has been an incredible journey and I didn’t take the decision to leave lightly. Manchester United is the only club that I would have left Munich for. I feel ready for this new and exciting challenge in what I regard as the most competitive league in the world and I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal again.
“I will never forget my time at Bayern Munich and I would like to thank everyone at the club and the fans for the great memories.”
United’s manager Louis van Gaal was delighted with the acquisition of the Bayern legend as the duo worked together from 2009-11 when LVG was in charge at the Allianz Arena.
“Bastian is, of course, no stranger to me. I worked with him during my time at Bayern Munich and I am truly delighted he is joining Manchester United,” van Gaal said. “His record speaks for itself; he has won every honor at club level and was a major part of the successful Germany World Cup-winning team last summer. Bastian is the ultimate professional and there is no doubting his talent and his ability to control games. He brings a wealth of experience and is an excellent addition to our squad.”
Van Gaal was the man who transformed Schweinsteiger from a winger into a deep-lying central midfielder and he will add plenty of steel and creativity to the heart of United’s team, with Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin expected to also sign for United on Monday.
Schweinsteiger will fly out to Seattle on Monday with his new teammates for the first leg of United’s U.S. preseason tour, and will become the first German to represent the Red Devils.