Bryan Mbeumo's Manchester United shirt number confirmed as £71m forward follows in footsteps of Real Madrid icon

The Cameroon international has moved to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ from Brentford in a deal that is worth an initial £65m ($88m) up front, with a further £6m being made up by a number of potential add-ons.

Mbeumo will be filling a familiar jersey with United, with the 25-year-old forward keeping the number that he wore with such distinction when registering 70 goals through 242 appearances for Brentford.

He inherits that squad number from Real Madrid legend Raphael Varane, who severed ties with the Red Devils at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. It has previously been worn by the likes of Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford, James Wilson, Danny Welbeck and Dwight Yorke, as well as fellow countryman Eric Djemba-Djemba.

Mbeumo has said: “As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams; the team whose shirt I wore growing up.

“My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday. I know that I have the spirit and character to reach another level here learning from Ruben Amorim and playing alongside world-class players.

“Everybody told me about the environment that is being created here and how exciting the plans are for the future. This is a massive club, with an incredible stadium and amazing fans, we are all really determined to challenge for the biggest trophies.”

Mbeumo has become United’s second big-money signing of the summer, following Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford, with the promise of more business to come before the 2025-26 Premier League campaign gets underway.