Eric Bailly goes to Man Utd after Mourinho becomes coach
The Ivory Coast international, who has signed a four-year contract, is the first player to join United since Jose Mourinho was appointed manager.
After completing the deal, Bailly, 22, 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.”
While reacting to the news, Mourinho said: “Eric has the potential to become one of the best around.” The Manager described the former Villareal defender as one of the bests in the game. Bailly has played 40 times in La Liga, the first five games being for Espanyol.
He joined Villarreal for £4.4m in January 2015 and played in every match as Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations just weeks later.
Bailly said: “It is a confidence boost that a manager with so much experience of English football has trusted in me by making me his first signing.
“English football has a different style to Spanish football. It’s more physical and more direct as well. I have always thought it would suit my style of football.”