Leeds agree £30m fee with United for Rio

Leeds United have agreed to sell Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United for £30m.

A deal was struck between the two clubs this afternoon, according to the Leeds website, www.lufc.com.

Earlier today United and Leeds agreed to scrap the noon deadline for the transfer of Ferdinand.

Elland Road chairman Peter Ridsdale had insisted on the deadline after receiving an offer way short of his valuation of the England defender.

Ridsdale spent the morning locked in talks with Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon.

The Leeds supremo conducted negotiations with Kenyon from his holiday home in the south of France.

Leeds were always looking for around £30m for Ferdinand, signed from West Ham for £18m

The defender, who has served only one year of a five-year contract, asked for a transfer last week.