Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan became Jose Mourinho’s third signing of the close season for Manchester United on Saturday, the midfielder’s German club Borussia Dortmund announced.
However, while Dortmund announced he was leaving it is believed he has yet to pass a medical and agree personal terms with United.
Mkhitaryan, who would join Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly and veteran Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as new faces at United, was given a curt farewell by Dortmund after ending his three-year stay in a deal worth around €42 million (Dh171.8m).
Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said he and the club were put in an unenviable position as Mkhitaryan had just a year left on his contract.
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“Manchester made us an enormous offer. If we had rejected it, the player could have left for free in 2017,” Watzke said.
The official club statement did not mention the player by name as he followed German World Cup-winning defender and club captain Mats Hummels and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in leaving the club this summer, the former to arch-rivals Bayern Munich and the latter to join former Bayern manager Pep Guardiola at English club Manchester City.
Dortmund fans have got used to the draining of their star names with the likes of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze leaving for Bayern among other big name departures in years gone by.
“After intensive discussions BVB have complied with the wishes of the Armenian national team player to join Manchester United,” read the statement.
Mkhitaryan, who cost Dortmund €30m when they signed him from Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, had a stellar season last term, scoring 23 goals in all competitions, as Borussia finished runners-up to Bayern in Germany’s Bundesliga.
But his agent confirmed at the beginning of last month they rejected Dortmund’s attempts to extend his contract.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SERIES INFO
Schedule:
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
1st ODI, Wed Apr 10
2nd ODI, Fri Apr 12
3rd ODI, Sun Apr 14
4th ODI, Sun Apr 16
UAE squad
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Zimbabwe squad
Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
