Manchester, England, June 23: England winger Ashley Young became Manchester United's second major signing of the offseason on Thursday when he joined the Premier League champions on a five-year deal.
The 25-year-old Young is reported in the British media to have cost United 17 million pounds ($27 million), even though he had only 12 months left on his contract at Villa.
Capped 15 times by England and able to play on either wing as well as in a central position behind the strikers, Young will add further strength to United's attacking options.
He will compete with Portugal winger Nani, Ecuador international Antonio Valencia and former South Korea star Park Ji-sung for a place in the first team.
United manager Alex Ferguson has already signed England under-21 defender Phil Jones from Blackburn this summer for a reported 16 million pounds, and the club has also declared in interest in 20-year-old Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea.
Ferguson is having to fill the gaps left in his squad following the retirement of veteran pair Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar at the end of last season.
The move to Old Trafford represents a major step-up in the career of Young, who wasn't a regular member of the England squad until last year. He failed to make his country's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. AP
