BREAKING NEWS: Manchester United Sign Ritchie De Laet

The Premier League champions have added to the acquisitions of Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic by signing Stoke City's Ritchie de Laet.

08-Jan-2009 3:50:36 PM

Old Trafford Manchester stadium(Minji Seo)

Manchester United have completed the surprise signing of Belgium youngster Ritchie de Laet.

De Laet will arrive at Old Trafford from Stoke City. He never kitted out for the Potters' first team, but it is likely that United will have been aware of the 20-year old from his days at Royal Antwerp.

United have a good working arrangement with Antwerp, after many of their own rising stars spent loan deals there in order to build up their first team experience and accelerate their learning process.

Prospects such as Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson, Danny Simpson, and Tottenham Hotspur's temporary striker Frazier Campbell have all spent at least one loan spell at the 'Great Old.'

De Laet was initially signed by Stoke for £100,000, but details of the figure paid by Manchester United are as of yet unknown.

Details of the players contract though have been disclosed, as Sky Sports reveal that de Laet has been awarded a performance-based contract.

De Laet is a versatile defender and can play anywhere along the backline. He has spent a short loan spell at Welsh club Wrexham where he made three appearances.

Alan Dawson, Goal.com