Manchester United lost the Community Shield final to Manchester City but football moves so quickly that they might field a very different XI in their next game vs Fulham in less than a week.
A big reason why is the incoming double signing of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who, if United’s injury worries remain the same, could both start that game.
De Ligt has been signed for €45 million with €5 million in add-ons, far below the price Bayern Munich started negotiating at.
Furthermore, the payment will be spread over three years, so United clearly got a good deal overall considering the player’s quality.
Still, De Ligt secured a place among Man United’s most expensive defenders with that fee, since most of United’s expensive signings have been in forward or midfield areas.
Here’s where De Ligt ranks amongst Man United’s most expensive defenders-
5- Matthijs de Ligt (£45 million)
The Dutchman surpasses Raphael Varane to enter the list in fifth place. Varane was signed in 2021 for a fee of £41 million including add-ons. It isn’t clear how many of those add-ons were actually triggered but for the purpose of this exercise, we will be considering the whole fee negotiated for clarity.
De Ligt’s transfer fee is then around £45 million with add-ons, making him the fifth-most expensive Man United defender of all time.
4- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£50 million)
How ironic it is that the deal for their fifth-most expensive defender was contingent on the sale of their fourth-most expensive one.
The right-back was signed from Crystal Palace for a fee of around £50 million in 2019. He was then amongst the most highly-rated fullbacks in England.
Wan-Bissaka never truly became an unqualified success at United, but more than did his job with some memorable defensive displays and availability until the last season.
3- Lisandro Martinez (£57 million)
De Ligt’s prospective centre-back partner is the third-most expensive Man United defender of all time. It’s a fee that raised eyebrows when the deal was made due to Martinez’s height.
Today, he is regarded as amongst the best centre-backs in world football and his impact on the team is clear when he plays vs when he doesn’t.
Of all the deals on this list, only this one qualifies as an absolute success.
2- Leny Yoro (£59 million)
This deal could age as an absolute success as Yoro has plenty of time on his side but it hasn’t started well. The Frenchman got injured on only his second start at the club and is set to be out for three months.
However, he showed glimpses of a special player in the making in those limited minutes which should leave fans plenty excited for his return.
1- Harry Maguire (£80 million)
It’s the factor due to which a very serviceable player like Maguire has been forever criticised, but he had no control over it.
Maguire’s time at United would be looked at much more fondly if he wasn’t the most expensive Man United defender of all time.
Ed Woodward and Co. got absolutely rinsed by Leicester City in this deal not just due to the money involved, but because United paid all of it upfront in a single installment.
For his part, Maguire has been a reliable player who has gained the trust of multiple managers but the specter of the fee never leaves him.
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