PREMIER LEAGUE
Manuel Ugarte to Manchester United: Transfer fee and his record at PSG
The Uruguayan midfielder has agreed personal terms and is on his way to Manchester to complete medical tests.
The summer transfer market is days away from deadline day, and Manchester United wanted to make one last reinforcement to their squad. Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte is traveling today, 27 August, to undergo medical tests in Manchester before he is unveiled as the Red Devils’ new player.
The English club’s interest in the 23-year-old player was no secret. For several weeks, both parties tried to reach an agreement, and most likely, Scott McTominay’s departure to Napoli for $33 million, which left United short in midfield, was the incentive that the club needed to sign Ugarte.
Manchester United and PSG agreed on a transfer fee of $55.8 million. The French club wanted a $67 million fixed fee for the player, but United’s $11.2 million in performance-related add-ons was enough to convince PSG. Despite contract details yet to be revealed, it is also known that Les Parisiens will also have a 10% sell-on clause.
Ugarte becomes Manchester United’s fifth signing this season; Center-backs Leny Yoro ($69.2 million) and Matthijs de Ligt ($50.2 million), striker Joshua Zirkzee ($47.4 million) and full-back Noussair Mazraoui ($16.7 million) are the other players to have arrived at Old Trafford.
Manuel Ugarte’s record at PSG
Ugarte started his football career at Uruguayan club CA Fénix in 2015. For the 2020/21 season, he joined Portuguese side Familicão, where he stayed only one year after catching the attention of Sporting CP, with whom he signed for the 2021/22 season.
Ugarte’s outstanding performances in the Portuguese league made PSG pay $67 million to Sporting CP to sign the player for the 2023/24 season. The 23-year-old Uruguayan was considered one of the best-emerging talents by the French club. He made his debut against Lorient on matchday one.
However, his lack of form began to cause PSG coach Luis Enrique to lose confidence in him. In the knockout stages of the Champions League, in which PSG was eliminated in the semifinals, he started all six games from the bench.
Ugarte played in 37 games with PSG, of which 25 were league matches. What’s more, his impressive performances with Uruguay during the 2024 Copa América earned him a spot in the competition’s best starting XI.