MANCHESTER, England ● Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez.
Henriquez, 18, has been linked with United throughout the summer – with the Premier League club formally announcing his signing for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday.
The move was delayed slightly as United had to wait for Henriquez to be awarded a work permit and visa before he could travel to the club to sign terms.
“I am thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world,” Henriquez said. “Manchester United is a great team and has a great manager.
“To be able to be a part of that is a huge honour and I can’t wait to get started. I hope I can be part of many successful years with United.”
A Under-23 international for his country, Henriquez had shown his potential with some impressive performances for club side Universidad de Chile – scoring 11 goals in 17 league appearances for the club.
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the youngster has the potential to become a great player for the Old Trafford club.
“Angelo Henriquez has made a tremendous impact on the game in his short career so far,” Ferguson said. “His pace is a great asset and he reads the game well for someone of such a young age.
“We have a proud record of developing young talent and Angelo fits the profile of a United player – skilful, attacking and someone who plays the game with real flair.”
Henriquez, whose fee is believed to be in the region of £3.5 million, will wear the No. 21 shirt for the Premier League runners-up.
He is eligible to play in Premier League matches for United after the conclusion of the current international break, having been registered as one of the club’s Under-21 players when the official squad lists were submitted to the league on Tuesday.
● Former England striker Michael Owen has completed his free transfer to Stoke in time to be included in the team’s 25-man squad for this season’s English Premier League campaign.
Owen, who was released by Manchester United this summer after three years at Old Trafford, agreed to terms with Stoke on Wednesday but had to wait a further 24 hours before the transfer was approved by the EPL.
The 32-year-old Owen says “we have been in talks for a while and it was a club I was always keen to join.”
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle striker made just four appearances last season for United. He hasn’t played competitively since November because of a thigh injury.
His Stoke debut could come against Manchester City on Sept. 15.