Manchester United reach £81.3m agreement with Ajax for Antony

Brazilian winger set to become Premier League club's second most expensive signing

Ajax winger Antony celebrates during the Eredivisie match against Groningen in Amsterdam on August 14, 2022. EPA

Manchester United have confirmed a deal is in place for the signing of Ajax's Antony, left. PA

Ajax's Antony celebrates against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League in September, 2021. Reuters

Ajax's Antony celebrates during the Eredivisie match against Groningen in Amsterdam, on August 14, 2022. AFP

Ajax's Antony celebrates after the scoring in the Eredivisie match against Feyenoord in Amsterdam, in March, 2022. AFP

Jax's Antony and Neraysho Kasanwirjo of Groningen battle for the ball at the Johan Cruyff Arena on August 14, 2022. EPA

Antony, right, celebrates with Steven Bergwijn against Groningen. EPA

Antony celebrates scoring for Ajax in the Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon in Amsterdam in December 2021. EPA

Antony, left, celebrates with Ajax teammates after clinching the Eredivisie title in May, 2022. AP

Antony of Ajax celebrates scoring against Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie match at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, in December, 2021. EPA

Manchester United have announced that they have reached an agreement to sign winger Antony from Dutch side Ajax.

The Premier League side are set to pay an initial fee of £81.3 million for the 22 year old Brazilian, subject to a medical, personal terms being finalised and international clearance. The deal could potentially rise to more than £86m after add-ons.

It makes Antony United's second most expensive signing of all time, taking him ahead of £80m Harry Maguire and behind only the £89m record paid out for Paul Pogba.

He becomes new manager Eric ten Hag's fifth signing of the summer after Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez – who played under Ten Hag at Ajax alongside Antony – and Casemiro, taking the Old Trafford club's summer spending to more than £200m.

Antony registered 24 goals and provided 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax, as well as two goals in nine senior appearances for Brazil.

He has won two Eredivisie titles with Ten Hag at Ajax, and a gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The announcement comes as the future of forward Cristiano Ronaldo continues to remain in doubt, with the Portugal veteran reportedly seeking to leave Old Trafford before the transfer window closes after the team's failure to qualify for the Champions League.

United owners the Glazer family have come in for fierce criticism in recent years from United fans unhappy at the club's direction after almost a decade of underachievement.

The anger was again reaching fever pitch after United lost their opening two games of the Premier League season, although they have since recovered to record two wins on the spin.

United are eighth in the table with six points from four games and travel to bottom side Leicester City on Thursday.

Southampton 0 Man United 1: player ratings

SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Gavin Bazunu – 6. Continues to find his feet. Fine save to deny Elanga and spark a remarkable goalmouth scramble. Had no chance at all with Fernandes’s winner early in the second period. Reuters

Kyle Walker-Peters – 7. A willing attacking threat as Southampton openly targeted the left-hand side of United’s defence, but his biggest contribution came in twice denying Fernandes during the first-half melee. Should have done better with the rebound after Aribo’s header had been saved. EPA

Armel Bella-Kotchap – 9. Outstanding. Did superbly to snuff out a pair of menacing United counter-attacks early on, saved a certain goal by blocking Eriksen’s close-range effort after a scramble, and twice showed great footwork at the other end before blazing wastefully over. AFP

Mohammed Salisu – 7. Provided further evidence that a central-defensive partnership can work better for Saints than a trio. Solid and unruffled for long periods in tandem with Bella-Kotchap, and posed United the added danger of his hefty long throws. EPA

Moussa Djenepo – 6. Perhaps relieved to be facing Elanga rather than Sancho, and enjoyed the upper hand in his running battle with the young Swede. Struggled more with Dalot’s presence, however, and Fernandes’s goal came from the Portuguese full-back’s work down his side. AFP

James Ward-Prowse – 7. Typically energetic, motoring up and down to set the tone for his side’s tactical pressing. Always looked dangerous when providing a supply line from dead balls or in open play, despite limited movement in front of him as United defended stoutly in central areas. EPA

Romeo Lavia – 8. Calm in possession but did his best work without the ball, ensuring that the visitors were unable to regularly join the departmental dots in a midfield battle which Saints tactically bossed. Reuters

Adam Armstrong – 7. An energetic display which gave Dalot defensive problems. Headed straight at De Gea when he might have done better with the game’s first chance, and would have had a fine assist in the second half if De Gea hadn’t fended away Aribo’s header. Getty

Joe Aribo – 6. Enjoyed the physical edge in midfield for long periods, but missed the chance to bolster a tidy performance with an invaluable equaliser, as he directed his powerful header straight at De Gea. Getty

Mohamed Elyounoussi - 5. A busy afternoon as Saints targeted the United left but, apart from one sublime through ball for Adams – which deserved better treatment than a scuffed finish – his contribution was limited and he made way for Stuart Armstrong just after an hour. Getty

Che Adams – 6. Anonymous for half-an-hour, but sprung into life after looping a header onto the roof of De Gea’s net. Saints’ likeliest attacking source all afternoon, but was unable to fully test De Gea when sights of goal did arise. Getty

SUBS: Stuart Armstrong (Mohamed Elyounoussi, 63) – 6. Serial sub continued his run of mid-game introductions. Typically tidy and bright as Saints pinned the visitors back in search of a leveller. Getty

Sekou Mara (Adam Armstrong, 77) – 6. Given little time to impact on proceedings as United clung on, but still caused problems with one audacious late overhead effort and a volley just wide. Getty

Lyanco (Joe Aribo, 89) – N/A. Introduced as an emergency target man, but Saints were unable to hit him. Romain Perraud (Moussa Djenepo, 89) – N/A. Getty

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7. Didn’t concede a goal in away match for the first time since February. Brilliant reflex save on 65 minutes as the Saints pushed for an equaliser. Stood up when needed. EPA

Diogo Dalot - 7. Crossed the ball strongly for Fernandes on 10. A little too strongly as his compatriot couldn’t get on it. Booked after 50 for a foul. Fine ball to Fernandes for the opening goal, but then gave a ball away to set up a Southampton attack on 58. Defended well against consistent Southampton pressure. Goal line clearance on 93. Reuters

Raphael Varane - 8. Stopped a 14th minute Southampton attack with a header and headed another home attack away on 94 minutes. Composed throughout. A clean sheet, some late minutes with his old Real Madrid teammates Casemiro. His best week since joining the club. This is what one of the best defenders in the world looks like. AFP

Lisandro Martinez - 8. Fine timing throughout. Physical, especially when tackling. Handled Adams well. Made a few errors but the 3,000 travelling United fans were already singing ‘Argentina!’ for their new signing. Getty

Tyrell Malacia - 7. Started the game well, though the best moments of turning out of trouble then giving the ball away came in the same 8th minute move. Excellent week for the new signing, with two wins in the first two games he started. Getty

Scott McTominay - 7. Dropped back to form a back three when his side were forced into a low block. That meant United had a numerical balance in the box. Had a 48th minute shot on target after he got behind Southampton’s defenders. Southampton players were convinced he’d handled in the second. Went down in agony on 87. EPA

Christian Eriksen - 6. One of several players who had a shot on the Southampton goal on 19. Dug in for victory until he tired and came off. Settling well in the unsettled atmosphere at his new club where fans continue to protest against the Glazer family. Reuters

Bruno Fernandes - 6. Another who had a shot on target in the first-half goalmouth scramble. His free-kicks underwhelm, he gave the ball away too much, but his first goal of the season was a delight, making a tough finish from a Dalot cross look doable. "Bruno, Bruno, Bruno, he's from Sporting like Cristiano," chant the United fans. EPA

Anthony Elanga - 6. Got behind the Southampton defence but tackled superbly by Bella Kotchap when on goal after 52. Involved in the build up with a run inside which created space for Dalot to cross. Needs to take chances. Reuters

Marcus Rashford - 5. Highly involved on Monday against Liverpool in a central role, barely involved against Southampton in the same role. Getty

Jadon Sancho - 5. Up against Walker Peters and as average as Rashford in a forward line which didn’t convince. EPA

SUBS: Cristiano Ronaldo (Sancho, 67) - 5. Was soon down clutching his knee. Poor choice of pass in a late attack. Might be the last time he wears a Manchester United shirt. Getty

Casemiro (Elanga, 79) - 7. Made a block and tackle to help United see the win out. Reuters

Fred (Eriksen, 91) - N/A. Quickly involved, winning the ball and taking it away from danger. Booked for a 95th minute challenge on Armstrong. Getty