Manchester have announced the signing of left-back, Luke Shaw, from Southampton on a four-year deal. The deal, believed to be in the region of £34 million, is the highest ever paid for a teenager and United were proud to show off their new defender on their website, where they announced the news after Shaw passed his medical at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.

In an official statement from the club, United's newest addition had this to say about his transfer: "I am thrilled and excited to be joining Manchester United. I have been at Southampton since I was eight years old and I would like to thank them and the fans for everything they have done for me. I want to continue to progress my career and joining United is the ideal place for me to do that. I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life and also looking forward to learning from the world-class players and management at the club."

Shaw becomes the second signing of the summer for United, who struggled desperately last year under former manager David Moyes, having announced just a day before that they would be bringing in the services of Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao. The Shaw deal brings United's spending to £58.8 million for the summer.

Incoming Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is currently in Brazil having led his Netherlands squad to a last 16 showdown against Mexico. It appears whatever poor fortune and planning that went into United's summer strategy last year is a distant memory, with the signing of two top targets this early in the summer. 

Shaw, who is just back from England duty having impressed in England's final game of the World Cup against Costa Rica, had a 79% pass completion percentage last year for the Saints and also won 61 tackles in 35 games, is seen as a replacement for the aging Patrice Evra. 33-year-old Evra featured in 33 games last year and is coming off a World Cup where France look set to go deep into the tournament.

Southampton have now produced the most expensive player and the most expensive teenager after Southampton youth team graduate Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid from Tottenham last summer for a reported £85 million. The English club also look set to lose Adam Lallana this summer having already lost Ricky Lambert to Liverpool and manager Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham Hotspurs.

United, on the other hand, sold left-back Alex Buttner to Dinamo Moscow after the Dutch defender failed to make an impression at Old Trafford. His replacement, Shaw, is seen as a solid purchase given his age, the potential he has shown, and his development in Southampton's system, which United will be looking to harnass further.

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About the author
Robbie Dunne
A Journalism Student with a love for the beautiful game, a fondness for Manchester United and Atletico Madrid