Howard completes United move

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of American goalkeeper Tim Howard for £2.3m (€3.2m).

United have bought the 24-year-old’s registration from Major League Soccer in the United States, with Howard agreeing a four-year contract at Old Trafford which the club confirmed to the Stock Exchange today.

Howard said: “I am overjoyed to be signing for the best club in the world and look forward to getting the business done and performing to the best of my abilities on the field.”

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted to have signed Howard and revealed his goalkeeper coach Tony Coton had been tracking the United States international for some time.

He said: “We have wanted Tim Howard for a while and Tony Coton has followed him for some time through his contacts in the US.

“Tim’s emergence alongside America’s number one goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller tells you how highly regarded he is in the States, and we are delighted to bring such a promising young ‘keeper to the club.”

The United statement read: "Manchester United is delighted to announce today that it has reached agreement with Major League Soccer for the transfer of the registration of Tim Howard for a fee of £2.3m (€3.2m), including associated costs.

“The player has signed a four-year contract with the club.”

Howard will be unveiled today at a 1pm press conference at Old Trafford.

The United States international had his application for a work permit granted last Friday and all that remained for Howard to do was complete a medical.

The transfer hit a snag earlier this month when United were forced to appeal Howard’s work permit application because the 24-year-old was ruled ineligible.

For a non-EU foreigner to play in England, he must have played in 75% of his country’s national team games in the past two years.

Howard, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, has been capped nine times by the United States and started all three matches in this summer’s Confederations Cup in France.

He could make his United debut on July 22 against Celtic in Portland, Oregon.