Four days after completing his loan move from Fiorentina on transfer deadline day, Sofyan Amrabat has been officially handed a new squad number at Manchester United.
The World Cup semi-finalist with Morocco had been linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer window as United sought to strengthen the team’s brittle midfield in the off-season.
Mason Mount’s £55m move at the start of the summer was prioritised before the club added goalkeeper Andre Onana and striker Rasmus Hojlund in a busy window. With few number options available by the end of the summer, Amrabat has now been handed the number 4 shirt.
As early as mid-August, 90min revealed that United had agreed personal terms with Amrabat and even an initial fee in the region of £29m had been floated past Fiorentina.
However, given the distinct lack of investment from the club’s controversial owners, the Glazers, the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations enforced by the Premier League and UEFA were particularly rigid for United.
The 27-year-old was growing frustrated as negotiations bled into the start of the new season while United prioritised sales to raise the necessary funds. The departures of Dean Henderson, Anthony Elanga and Fred generated almost £50m but United could only afford to loan Amrabat this summer.
Fiorentina, beaten finalists in last season’s Europa Conference League and Coppa Italia, were unimpressed with United’s first loan offer two days before the Premier League window closed.
However, both clubs were eventually able to agree upon a deal before 1 September’s deadline. United will pay a fee of £8.5m just for the reward of loaning Amrabat for 12 months. The contract also contains a potential purchase option of £17.1m in the summer of 2024, with £4.3m in add-ons.
Amrabat was not available for United’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, delaying the midfielder’s debut until after the international break. The visit of high-flying Brighton on Saturday 16 September could be the occasion of Amrabat’s debut.
If Amrabat does feature against the Seagulls, he will become the first United player to wear the number 4 shirt in the Premier League since Phil Jones earned a 15-minute cameo against Brentford in May 2022.
What we know
- Amrabat joined on loan from Fiorentina on transfer deadline day
- The midfielder reached the semi-finals of the World Cup with Morocco in December
- Amrabat inherits a squad number from a player that didn’t make a single appearance last season