Manchester United signs Young for reported fee of £17m

Premier League Champions Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.

For a fee believed to be between the region £16 million and £20 million, United signed the 25-year-old who had expressed his desire to play Champions League football. Young underwent a medical at Manchester on Wednesday.

A statement on Manchester United's official website confirmed the signing reading, Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Ashley Young.

The player passed a medical in Manchester this week and has agreed a five-year contract.

Young told MUTV that he couldn't turn down a chance to play for the champions.

The opportunity to come and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world is one I couldn't turn down. It's a chance to hopefully become part of their history by helping to win the 20th title.

It's a prospect I always looked at from being a child - to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. I've got that opportunity now so I've just got to take it with two hands.

New Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish, who never managed Young, passed on his best wishes to the player.

Ashley has made a terrific contribution for Villa in the last four-and-a-half seasons and everyone at the club wishes him the best for the future, McLeish said. He has become an important player in the England team during that time and I am sure he will be looking forward to this new challenge.