Owen completed surprise move to Manchester United

Michael Owen has  Manchester United after the free agent signed a two-year deal with the Premier League champions. The Barclays Premier League champions confirmed the 29 year old had signed a two-year deal after completing a medical at a south Manchester hospital this afternoon, is understood to have agreed a pay-as-you-play deal at Old Trafford.

Michael Owen

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said, Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level.” Owen had also been linked with Everton, Aston Villa, Stoke and Hull. But instead he becomes Manchester United’s second summer signing after the recent addition of Antonio Valencia from Wigan.

“Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish,” added Ferguson. Owen said Manchester United interest in him came as a surprise, “I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me. I agreed without a moment’s thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands. I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here. I missed pre-season last year and am pleased that I will be starting from day one. I’d like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical. I’ve obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high. A lot is made out of it but I certainly don’t feel like I’m injury prone. I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances.”

Owen had checks on an old knee injury in London on Thursday before undergoing a full medical at the private Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester on Friday. He has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, suffering with groin, ankle, thigh, hernia, metatarsal and knee ligament problems.

Owen’s shock switch caps a remarkable turnaround for the ex-Real Madrid hitman. Having been relegated with Newcastle just six weeks ago, he faced an uncertain future with none of Europe’s big guns showing an interest in him. England boss Fabio Capello has continually snubbed him at international level. But, with the World Cup finals less than 12 months away, he could now force his way back into the reckoning if he succeeds at United. The Old Trafford new-boy will battle it out for a starting berth with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.