Eric Bailly leaves Villarreal for four-year deal with Manchester United

June 11, 2016

On Wednesday, English football club Manchester United F.C. signed 22-year-old Ivorian central-defender from Spanish club  on a four-year contract.

Bailly joined Villarreal in January 2015 from Barcelona-based club. Since then, the Ivorian has played 47 matches for Villarreal in one-and-a-half seasons. Last year, Bailly won the with Ivory Coast and played all six matches in the tournament. He made fifteen international appearances.

Manchester United's manager praised the centre-back saying, "Eric is a young central defender with great natural talent. He has progressed well to date and has the potential to become one of the best around."

After signing the contract, Bailly said, "It is a dream come true to be joining Manchester United. To play football at the highest level is all I have ever wanted to do [...] I am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and to starting this new chapter of my life."

He has an option to extend his contract for two more years in the deal.