Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United agree £46m transfer for Sporting midfielder subject to medical

The move for the 25-year-old is subject to a medical and personal terms and also includes performance-related add-ons of up to £8.5m

Bruno Fernandes has been the outstanding player in Portugal in recent years (Reuters)

Manchester United have completed the transfer of Bruno Fernandes for an initial £46m, subject to the Sporting midfielder passing a medical.

A statement by the club read: “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Sporting Clube de Portugal for the transfer of Bruno Fernandes. The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course.”

The deal for the 25-year-old had hit an impasse over the transfer fee, with Sporting reluctant to let their star player leave for less than £50m. However, a breakthrough was made when the two clubs agreed a series of performance-related add-ons which could amount to a further £20m.

Fernandes has been the outstanding player in Portuguese football for some time, winning back-to-back Primeira Liga player of the year awards.

He has built a reputation for being exceptionally productive from midfield, racking up 39 goals and 30 assists over the past two and a half seasons since joining Sporting from Italian club Sampdoria in 2017. He is also known for his stamina and high work rate off the ball.

Sporting wrote on Twitter: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Obrigado Capitao. Para sempre Leao (Thanks captain. Forever Lion).”

The announcement comes after the house of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was attacked overnight. Cheshire Police are investigating the incident.

United, who play Manchester City in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening, did not confirm when Fernandes’s registration would be completed, but he could be in the squad for the Premier League match against Wolves at Old Trafford on Saturday.