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

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.