Manchester United has come to an agreement to sign Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian forward, from Wolverhampton, marking the beginning of coach Ruben Amorim’s plans to revamp the team after their poorest Premier League season on record.
The transfer fee for Cunha is reported to be 62.5 million pounds (approximately $84 million), and the player will enter a five-year contract, with the option to extend for an additional year. Completion of this deal is pending Cunha’s return from international duties with Brazil.
Wolverhampton has noted this as the club’s highest-ever fee received for a player, having witnessed Cunha score 33 times in 92 matches over his two and a half years with the team. His performance provided crucial support for Wolves last season, scoring 17 goals and playing a pivotal role in ensuring their ongoing presence in the Premier League.
Manchester United, who narrowly finished above Wolves at 15th place—a low they have not seen since the Premier League’s inception in 1992—struggled significantly in offense, with their forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee managing only 18 goals combined in various competitions.
Cunha’s arrival signals the start of what could be a busy summer at Old Trafford, as the club seeks to turn its fortunes under Amorim’s guidance. Despite being a joint record-holder of 20 English championships, United has not lifted the Premier League trophy in 12 years, since Alex Ferguson’s final year of management in 2013.
With no European competitions on the horizon next season, following their bottom-half finish without a trophy, United missed the chance for a Champions League spot. They came close in the Europa League final against Tottenham but suffered a 1-0 defeat, showcasing their persistent struggles in scoring.
Only Southampton, Ipswich, and Leicester, who were relegated, and Everton tallied fewer goals than United’s 44 this past season. Amorim, previously critical of his team’s performance as possibly the club’s worst, is expected to bring new players to the squad, although his spending power will be constrained due to missing out on Champions League revenues.