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Daniel James said he is “incredibly proud” to have joined Manchester United , though admitted his signing was "tinged with sadness" after his father passed away suddenly last month.
James joins United from Championship club Swansea City in an initial £15m deal, which could potentially rise to £18m in add-ons.
The 21-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year and becomes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first signing as United manager.
The deal between United and Swansea was in motion before the end of the season, though was held up by the tragic death of James' father Kevan at the age of 60.
“This is one of the best days of my life and a challenge I am really looking forward to,” the Wales international said, in his first words as a United player.
Show all 50 1 /50Manchester United transfer 'targets' Manchester United transfer 'targets' Manchester United 'transfer targets': ranked and rated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning a summer overhaul, but who is most likely to end up at Old Trafford?
PA
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Mohamed Salah A few spurious reports in Spain claim United are lining up a monster offer of around £180m, which makes no sense on any level. 0%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Pedro Can we take a moment to appreciate the defending in this photo... Anyway, the Fluminense striker has reportedly agreed to join Watford so it seems like this boat has sailed. 1%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Reece James The Chelsea defender has had an outstanding season on loan at Wigan and with a potential transfer embargo looming, it seems unlikely the club would sell him – let alone to a big-six rival. New contract imminent. 1%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Sergio Ramos The Real Madrid captain has fallen out with the club's hierarchy, but has since said he wants to stay and see out his career at the Bernabeu. 1%.
Reuters
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Niklas Sule A giant of a man who would improve United's defence, but it is unclear why he would leave Bayern or why Bayern would let him go. 1%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Robert Lewandowski Can't imagine it. That's all this is based on. 2%.
EPA
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Hirving Lozano The PSV forward said he wanted to play for United a couple of months ago, but has since said he wants to play in the Champions League next season. 2%.
EPA
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Thomas Meunier Key facts: slated United's comeback win in Paris recently, heavily linked with Arsenal; scored that lovely goal at the World Cup. 3%.
PA
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Jan Oblak The kind of quality that United would be looking for, should David de Gea leave, though it would take a huge sum to prise him from Atletico and he signed a new contract in April. 3%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Joao Cancelo Seems settled in Turin, with Manchester City reported as more likely a destination than United should he leave this summer. 3%.
REUTERS
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Wilfred Ndidi A few reports say Manchester United fans want him, but little concrete linking the club to a bid, and Leicester are keen to hold on to the midfielder. 3%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Patrick van Aanholt Possibly just included in the more concrete Aaron Wan-Bissaka rumours by way of neat symmetry. 4%
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Ivan Rakitic Didn't play well at Anfield in the Champions League and could be usurped in midfield by Frenkie de Jong next season, but it still feels a long shot that he ends up at Old Trafford. 4%.
EPA
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Philippe Coutinho Not having a great time at the Nou Camp but was promised another season by the club president in a recent interview. Would be extremely expensive if he became available. 4%.
EPA
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Jadon Sancho Jadon Sancho was wanted by United this summer, but a deal looks very unlikely with huge competition and his settled place at Dortmund. 4%.
EPA
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Thomas Partey His dad seems to want him move to the Premier League, judging by his quotes in the media, but it is unclear just how serious United or any other top club are about signing the Atletico Madrid midfielder. 4%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Declan Rice The West Ham and England midfielder could be set for a career at the top of the game, but reports linking him to United are light on detail, and more recently Solskjaer has 'accepted Rice is out his reach'. 4%.
Action Images via Reuters
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Edinson Cavani Perpetually linked with a PSG exit, but never actually leaves. Supposedly United and Chelsea both want him, but those rumours haven't resurfaced for a couple of months. 5%.
AFP/Getty Images
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Joao felix The forward is one of the best young players on the planet. Manchester City are believed to lead the race for his signature, and he is an admirer of Pep Guardiola, although he just looks like he's made for a clasico one day. 5%.
AFP/Getty Images
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Tanguy Ndombele Lyon midfielder heavily linked with Tottenham, and loosely linked with United. 5%.
REUTERS
Manchester United transfer 'targets' James Rodriguez Loan at Bayern has not been made permanent so he's back at Real Madrid, looking for a new club. United are one of the few who could pay his wages but the links have been tenuous at best. 6%.
AFP/Getty Images
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Wilfried Zaha His last stay at Manchester United was not particularly productive and north London seems a more likely destination for the Palace forward, judging by the latest reports. 6%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Mauro Icardi Lost the Inter captaincy after his wife/agent fell out with the board. Could form part of a swap deal with Romelu Lukaku, but these high-profile swaps almost never happen. 6%.
Reuters
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Idrissa Gueye He wants out and PSG are reportedly eyeing the midfielder, who Everton value at more than £40m. 7%
REUTERS
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Andre Onana The impressive Ajax goalkeeper has been linked with Barcelona and Arsenal too, but is another option if De Gea departs. 7%.
REUTERS
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Richarlison Having scored this goal (pictured) against United in one of their more spectacularly inept displays this season, Richarlison is on their radar, but he said recently that he is happy at Goodison and it's hard to see exactly which problem he would solve at Old Trafford. 7%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Ryan Sessegnon Still only 19, the winger didn't quite light up the Premier League this season, although he was playing in a duff Fulham side. A change might do him good but Tottenham are said to be the most interested of the top six, if indeed he goes that high. 7%.
Action via Reuters
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Antoine Griezmann 'Griezzy' is taking those luscious locks to Barcelona, probably, although things have gone quiet on that front in recent days so you never know. 7%.
AFP/Getty Images
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Toby Alderweireld Toby Alderweireld looks like he is set to depart the snappily titled Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but United have preferred centre-back targets. 8%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Bruno Fernandes Sporting's talented midfielder has been linked with Manchester City too, while he's also said he "likes" Liverpool's style of play. 8%.
REUTERS
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Saul Niguez Has a £130m buyout clause but could go for much less after falling out with Diego Simeone. 9%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Keylor Navas Rumoured as part of an exchange deal with Real Madrid in any Paul Pogba deal. Regained his place when Zidane returned to Real ahead of Thibaut Cortois, but his future remains uncertain. 9%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Jerome Boateng Another ageing, injury-prone centre-back is probably not what United need but Bayern are willing to sell for £15m. 10%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Jasper Cillessen The Barcelona back-up has been cited as a potential option to replace De Gea, should he leave, and he wants game time, so it is not an implausible deal. 10%.
Getty
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Kieran Trippier Serie A is said to be the most likely destination for 'Tripps', whose brief period resembling Dani Alves seems a long time ago now. 11%.
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Nicolas Pepe Lille's prolific winger is wanted by Manchester United and Liverpool this summer, while his manager said he's "150% likely to leave". Having done some detailed calculations, we've got him at 12%.
AFP/Getty
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Gareth Bale Bale has spent so much time on the bench under Zinedine Zidane mark II that a move to the Premier League is not impossible, and United are one of the few clubs who could meet his wage demands. The type of needless galactico signing United have made a habit of in recent years. 13%.
Getty
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Moussa Dembele United supposedly bid £35m for the Lyon forward, who has performed well since joining from Celtic, but little has been heard since those reports last month. 14%.
AFP/Getty Images
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Christian Eriksen He wants to leave and Real Madrid are yet to put in an offer, but they are thought to be growing keen since his come-and-get-me plea last week. Available cut-price with his contract running down. 14%.
Getty / Independent
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Paulo Dybala Sounds like he's on his way out of Turin, but where? United have been linked but Inter have been mooted too, while Real Madrid were in and then out again. Nothing very concrete though, so hard to say. 15%.
REUTERS
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Ruben Dias The centre-back, left, is already a regular international and there have been reports of a mooted £50m+ transfer over in Portugal. 16%.
AP
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Sean Longstaff Early days, but seems like a Geordie Scott McTominay. Talk of a £25m transfer seems completely pointless for all involved, and therefore quite a plausible strategy for United to embark upon. 17%.
Getty
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Adrien Rabiot Available on a free transfer this summer, but that means there is plenty of interest. Would fill a gap with Ander Herrera's departure and Paul Pogba's future up in the air. 18%.
AFP/Getty
Manchester United transfer 'targets' James Maddison United are at the front of a bustling queue for the Leicester City midfielder, whose creativity stats have made him the Moneyball pick of the summer. 20%.
Independent
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Kalidou Koulibaly The centre-back is one of the world’s most sought-after defenders, but he will come at a huge price. Then again, United desperately need defensive reinforcements and he's near the top of their wanted list as one of the best around. 21%.
Reuters
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Matthijs de Ligt The summer transfer target of all transfer targets. Juventus and Barcelona are in the hunt but United are said to be pushing hardest for the teenager. Louis van Gaal's advice to De Ligt – to snub chaotic United for Guardiola's City – won't have gone down well with the man that hired and fired him, Ed Woodward, you suspect. 23%.
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Manchester United transfer 'targets' Harry Maguire The Leicester and England centre-back would be an instant starter, but is another linked with Manchester City too. Jose Mourinho tried and failed to sign him last summer. Seems destined to depart the King Power, either way. 25%.
Reuters
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Aaron Wan-Bissaka A brilliant defender who would resolve one of United's problem positions. A hefty pricetag of £50m, but then United have form for shelling out excessive sums on promising English full-backs. 36%.
Reuters
Manchester United transfer 'targets' Youri Tielemans The midfielder played so well on loan at Leicester that he has attracted interest from the very biggest clubs in Europe. United and Spurs are again reported to be competing for his affections, and our very own Miguel Delaney says he is No1 priority should Pogba go. 42%.
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“The Premier League is the best league in the world and Manchester United is the perfect place for me to continue to develop as a player.
“This is an incredibly proud moment for me and my family, however it is tinged with sadness that my father isn’t able to share this experience with us."
James paid a heartfelt tribute to his father on Instagram last month, describing him as his "inspiration".
"Thank you for everything you have ever done for me I couldn’t ask for anyone better, I will make you proud I promise," he wrote.
Solskjaer echoed much of what his first signing said with regards to football, describing James as an "exciting young winger with lots of skills, vision, exceptional pace and a good work ethic".
“He had a great season with Swansea City and has all the attributes needed to become a Manchester United player," Solskjaer added.
“We are delighted he has signed with our club and we are all looking forward to working with him. This is the perfect environment for Daniel to continue his development.”
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