Lisandro Martinez, a defender from Ajax, has agreed to a deal with Manchester United worth up to £57 million. Martinez is expected to sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford.
With an additional €10 million (£8.5 million) in add-ons negotiated by the two clubs, United will pay a guaranteed €57 million (£48.5 million) for the Argentina international defender. Martinez will reunite at Old Trafford with former Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag, who signed him for the team in 2019.
Before he signs a five-year contract in Manchester with the option of another year, which would keep him past the age of 30, the deal is still pending the fulfillment of medical and visa formalities. Completion is anticipated in the next days.
Martinez shared a photo of himself and his agent traveling to Manchester on his Instagram account on Friday night.
“Last season, Martinez averaged more passes per 90 minutes than any other Eredivisie player, while only two players directed more passes forward per 90 minutes.
“Those numbers underline Martinez’s ability to play through opposition lines but he is similarly adept at switching the play and picking out team-mates over longer distances. At Ajax last season, no player averaged more successful long passes per 90 minutes.
“Voted Ajax’s player of the year for his role in their Eredivisie title triumph last season, Martinez stands at just 5ft 9ins, making him small for a centre-back.
“Last season at Ajax, he made more headed clearances (29) than any other player and won 79 of his 112 aerial duels, giving him a success rate of 71 per cent and putting him second only to Harry Maguire among Manchester United and Arsenal’s current centre-backs.
“Martinez can expect to face more exacting opponents in the Premier League, of course, but he is also helped by a sound reading of the game. He is known for anticipating strikers’ runs and positioning himself smartly to make tackles and interceptions.
“Those qualities, coupled with his versatility and technical prowess, make him all the more alluring to Premier League suitors.”
