LONDON, July 21: Leeds have agreed to sell England centre-half Rio Ferdinand to English Premiership rivals Manchester United for a record 30 million pounds (47.3m dollars), it was reported here Sunday.

The deal, subject to Ferdinand passing a medical and agreeing personal terms, will once again make the 23-year-old the world’s costliest defender.

Last year Juventus paid Italian rivals Parma 35.4m dollars (22.5m pounds) for France defender Lilian Thuram.

Ferdinand’s move will also be a British record surpassing the 28.1m pounds United paid Italian Serie A side Lazio for Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron last year.—AFP