Mason Mount bid farewell to his long-standing 18-year association with Chelsea. The talented English midfielder, who emerged victorious in the 2021 Champions League, has now become Erik ten Hag’s inaugural signing for the summer. Mount will don the iconic No. 7 jersey for Manchester United.
In a significant transfer move, Manchester United have successfully completed signing Mason Mount from Chelsea for an initial fee of £55m. The total sum could potentially reach £60m, contingent on his performance and appearances over multiple seasons.
The 24-year-old English midfielder has committed to a five-year contract at Old Trafford, running until the June 2028, with an option to extend for an additional year.
Mount’s arrival marks Manchester United’s inaugural signing of the summer, concluding his remarkable 18-year affiliation with Chelsea, where he achieved success in winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Throughout his career, the versatile midfielder has amassed an impressive record of 279 club appearances, scoring 58 goals, and providing 53 assists. Notably, he was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year for both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.
Having earned 36 caps for the England national team, Mount played a pivotal role in their journey to the final of the 2021 European Championship.
Embracing the next phase of his career, the talented midfielder expressed his sentiments regarding the transfer, acknowledging the difficulty of leaving his childhood club while anticipating an exciting new challenge at Manchester United. As a symbol of his new chapter, Mount will proudly wear the iconic No. 7 shirt for his new team.
“It’s never easy leaving the club where you grew up, but Manchester United will provide an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career. Having competed against them, I know just how strong a squad it is that I’m joining, and I can’t wait to be part of this group’s drive to win major trophies,” Mason Mount said. “Everyone can see that the club has made big steps forward under Erik ten Hag. Having met with the manager and discussed his plans, I couldn’t be more excited for the seasons ahead and am ready for the hard work expected here.”
He added, “I am hugely ambitious; I know how amazing it feels to win major trophies and what it takes to do it. I will be giving everything to experience that again at Manchester United.”
Mason Mount’s Farewell to Chelsea Fans
Mason Mount bid farewell to Chelsea fans in a heartfelt social media video on Tuesday evening.
Manchester United’s football director, John Murtough, expressed his delight at acquiring Mount’s services, acknowledging his exceptional footballing intellect and impressive technical abilities that will significantly enhance the squad.
“Mason is an extremely intelligent footballer and has so many fantastic technical qualities that will significantly add to our squad,” Murtough said. “We have admired his talents for a long time, so we are delighted that he has chosen to take the next steps in his career here at Old Trafford.”
Having admired Mount’s skills for a considerable period, the club is thrilled that he has chosen to embark on the next chapter of his career at Old Trafford. His style of play and attributes align seamlessly with the team, and there is a collective belief that working alongside Erik ten Hag and the coaching staff will further nurture his potential.
While Mount’s individual talent is undoubtedly world-class, his game intelligence and tactical awareness also have the power to elevate the performances of those around him. The strong desire he displayed to join Manchester United, coupled with his hunger for continued success, impressed the club’s decision-makers. As they strive to elevate their performance levels in the forthcoming seasons, the addition of Mount is seen as a catalyst for achieving those ambitions and beyond.
Why Manchester United Wanted Mason Mount
Manchester United’s interest in Mason Mount can be traced back to a fateful encounter between the talented midfielder and United’s current manager, Erik ten Hag, during his tenure as the head coach of Ajax. The initial connection occurred when Mount, then on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, played a pivotal role in his team’s victory over Ajax in March 2018. It was Mount’s expertly taken free-kick that led to Vitesse Arnhem’s third goal in a thrilling 3-2 win.
At the time, ten Hag, still relatively new to his position at Ajax, recognized Mount’s potential and reportedly tried to secure his services on loan from Chelsea for the following season. The 18-year-old prodigy’s impressive tally of 14 goals and 10 assists in his debut season of senior football, primarily operating from central midfield, had captured Ten Hag’s attention and admiration.
Fast forward to the present, and Erik ten Hag’s persistence has finally paid off. Mason Mount has now become the prized asset that Ten Hag desired, with the midfielder making a highly-anticipated move to Manchester United.