Ederson signs five-year deal to end Man Utd transfer saga

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

The future of Manchester United target Ederson has finally been decided after a dramatic summer that saw the Brazil international come close to a move to Atletico Madrid and then Old Trafford.

Ederson was announced as Michael Carrick’s first signing since becoming permanent Man Utd manager, only for the deal to breakdown in surprising circumstances.

United were prepared to trigger the €40 million release clause of the 27-year-old and had agreed personal terms with the player. However, after extensive medicals in England, the Red Devils were not happy with the condition of the player’s knee and the move was called off.

Current ETV

Éderson

M (C)

Atalanta

Éderson

M (C)

Atalanta

€33.2M

ETV Range

€29.9M - €36.6M

View full profile

Various reports indicated that if the conditions were right towards the end of the summer, a transfer for the player may have been revisited.

While this was a surprising stance, Ederson would have offered Carrick’s side the type of mobility that they simply do not possess, even after recruiting Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in deals worth close to €100m from Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.

Had United been able to drive the player’s transfer fee down, they may have felt that he was worth the risk.

Five-year contract signed

Ederson, though, will not be moving to Man Utd this summer after it was announced that he has instead signed a new deal with Atalanta, who he won the 2024 Europa League.

Atalanta have confirmed that the energetic midfielder has signed a new five-year deal.

A statement from the Italian club reads: “After an initial four-year stint with the Nerazzurri, studded with excellent results and mutual satisfaction, the bond between Ederson and Atalanta has further consolidated.

“The entire club wishes Ederson the best of luck, both personally and as a team, as he continues his journey in the Nerazzurri shirt.”

No Ederson, no problem for Man Utd

In the short term, Man Utd’s transfer plans have not changed. Ederson was rejected because of his knee troubles and alternatives are being pursued. The intention remains that they will sign a third central midfielder this summer after Tielemans and Andrey Santos.

While the expectation has been that this will be a marquee player, the latest reports have played this possibility down.

Carrick does indeed need reinforcements in this area. If the intention is to build on last season’s third-place finish and challenge for the Premier League title, the midfield needs an injection of energy, the type of which Ederson would have brought.

Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin is one of the players United have been linked with as a budget option in that area, with Atalanta another of the teams rumoured to hold an interest in the Belgium star.

While there is uncertainty over who United will recruit, it’s now certain that it won’t be Ederson.