Shinji Kagawa. -Photo by AFP

Manchester United have agreed terms with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of midfielder Shinji Kagawa, the English Premier League club said on Tuesday, with the Japan international needing to pass a medical and obtain a work permit to complete the deal.     

United said in a statement they expected the transfer to be completed by the end of June and have already agreed terms with the attacking midfielder, who has been a revelation in Germany over the past two seasons and has a contract with Dortmund until 2013.

No details of the fee were released but German media reported that Kagawa would cost United 17 million Euros ($21.24 million).

“We would like to thank Shinji for his effort and his large contribution in two extraordinarily successful years,” said Borussia sports director Michael Zorc, who was responsible for bringing the player to Dortmund in 2010.

The 23-year-old joined Dortmund for 350,000 euros from Japan's second division club Cerezo Osaka and notched 21 goals in 49 league games.

Kagawa won two consecutive Bundesliga titles as well as the German Cup this season, helping Borussia establish themselves as the new force in German football.

He scored 13 league goals last season and set up another nine for his team mates as he replaced injured Mario Goetze after the winter break in a playmaking role where he proved to be equally effective.

Speculation about a possible move to Manchester had been rife in the past months with United manager Alex Ferguson meeting the player in Berlin immediately after their German Cup victory over Bayern Munich in May.

Kagawa is currently with the Japan squad preparing for Friday's World Cup qualifier at home to Jordan.

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...