Manchester United CONFIRM £60m signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Chelsea's Mason Mount, with the England midfielder agreeing a five-year deal at Old Trafford.

Mount had emerged as Erik ten Hag's priority transfer target this summer but the Red Devils saw a number of bids rebuffed by the Blues as they looked to haggle down the price for a player with one year remaining on his Chelsea deal.

Following weeks of failed negotiations, United and Chelsea eventually settled on a fee of £55million with £5m in add-ons, clearing Mount to complete his medical at Carrington on Monday.

The 24-year-old is set to earn around £250,000-a-week at United - a significant hike on the £75,000-a-week salary he was earning at Chelsea.

Mount confirmed he was leaving the Blues to join United in a farewell message to Chelsea fans on Tuesday.

His arrival comes at the perfect time for Ten Hag and Co, who are due to begin their pre-season training in earnest with a friendly against rivals Leeds next week.

Mount could make his debut for his new club against the Whites, although he will be some way from the theatre of dreams, with the game taking place in Oslo, Norway.

The English star arrives at United on the back of a trying 2022-23 season with Chelsea, in which he struggled for both form and fitness.

He made just 35 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, scoring three times and providing six assists as Chelsea fell short of expectations.

In total, he missed 13 games of the campaign as he struggled to overcome a pelvic issue that ruled him out of the end of the season under Frank Lampard.

But despite his underwhelming displays last term, United were keen to land their target, and he looks set to replace Christian Eriksen in the side with his ability to play through the middle or even out wide.

Mount will also bring energy and a deadly right foot from dead ball situations as Ten Hag's side look to improve on their third-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Ending an 18-year stay for Mount at Chelsea, which began when he joined the academy as a six-year-old, his spell at the club turned sour after Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club to Todd Boehly in 2022, with the team struggling under the upheaval and mass changes to both player and staff personnel.

Their 12th-placed finish in the 2022-23 campaign, coupled with the lure of playing Champions League football with United on more than double his salary, proved strong enough for him to leave the club he has supported as a boy.

The player was on the books at Chelsea for his entire career, although he spent time away on loan to Derby in 2018-19 and Vitesse Arnheim in 2017-18, and won the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup with the Blues.

In his message to Chelsea fans, Mount said: 'Hi Chelsea fans, given the speculation over the last six months, this may not come as a surprise to you. But it doesn't make it any easier to tell you I've made the decision to leave Chelsea.

'I feel you deserve more than just a written statement so I wanted to tell you directly how grateful I've been for all of your support over the last 18 years.

'I know some of you won't be happy with my decision but it's what's right for me at this moment in my career.

'I joined Chelsea when I was six years old and we've been through a lot together, winning the Youth Cup, my player of the year awards, the Super Cup, the Club World Cup, and of course that unforgettable night when we won the Champions League.'

Mount took the opportunity to thank various individuals for helping him on his journey at Chelsea, including former managers Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter and academy bosses Jim Fraser and Neil Bath.

He added: 'I want to say thank you to the academy Jim and Neil for being so influential from such a young age. The managers I've worked under, Frank, Thomas and Graham.

'The backroom staff, the unsung heroes of Cobham, all of my team-mates over the years that have become my brothers, my family for the continuous love and support and most importantly you guys for sticking with me throughout. Wish you all the best'.

Mount becomes the latest in a string of big name stars to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

Mateo Kovacic has joined Manchester City for £25m, while N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly have all made the switch to the Saudi Pro League, joining Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal respectively.

Kai Havertz has also departed, signing for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal for £65m, as the clear out in west London continues apace as Mauricio Pochettino takes charge of the club.