Villarreal have completed the signing of defender Willy Kambwala from Manchester United.
The deal for Kambwala is worth up to €11.5million (£9.7m; $12.5m), comprising an initial €5.5m plus €6m in add-ons, and he has signed a five-year contract at Villarreal.
The Athletic reported on Sunday the centre-back was close to joining the La Liga side, with the deal also including a buy-back option and matching rights for three years, plus a sell-on clause.
Kambwala had one year remaining on his United contract and he had rejected the offer of a new deal.
United consider the timing right to part with the 19-year-old, given he had 12 months remaining on his contract and the protection added to the deal through buy-back clauses and sell-on fees.
GO DEEPER
Willy Kambwala’s journey to the Man Utd first team – via DR Congo and a famous Paris suburb
Kambwala broke into the United first team last season and made his senior debut against West Ham United in December. He went on to feature 10 times during the 2023-24 campaign as United contended with a number of defensive injury problems.
United signed a then 16-year-old Kambwala from Sochaux in 2020 — the summer before Brexit regulations changed academy recruitment.
He made three Premier League starts last season and earned particular praise for his performance in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April.
Centre-back is a priority position for United to strengthen this summer. The club have already held talks with Bayern Munich over a deal for Matthijs de Ligt and had two offers rejected by Everton for Jarrad Branthwaite. They are also pursuing Lille’s Leny Yoro.
Raphael Varane departed at the end of last season following the conclusion of his contract, while Jonny Evans, 36, has signed a new one-year deal that runs until 2025.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
