Mason Mount has officially moved to Old Trafford and will don the number seven jersey for Manchester United.
The transfer of the England international from Chelsea has been finalized, with United paying a base price of £55 million plus up to $5 million in add-ons. As United’s manager Erik ten Hag gets his team ready for Champions League play, he becomes the club’s first summer acquisition.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo left the team in the middle of last season, United’s number seven jersey has been empty. Alejandro Garnacho or Jadon Sancho had been mentioned as potential candidates to wear the number, but the new addition will don the legendary jersey number that has previously been worn by players like David Beckham and Eric Cantona.
Prior to this, it had been predicted that Mount will wear the number 19 jersey, which he wore for Chelsea last year. Raphael Varane wore the number 19 for United last year, but some thought he would switch to the number four once Phil Jones left.
When Varane transferred from Real Madrid to United, the Manchester Evening News claims he specifically asked for the number four jersey. Jones apparently resisted giving it up though.
Varane never wore the number four jersey while playing for Real Madrid; instead, he wore 19 during his rookie campaign before switching to five for Los Blancos. He did, however, don the number 4 for France and chose it once his nation advanced to the World Cup final.
“It’s never easy leaving the club where you grew up, but Manchester United will provide an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career,” Mount stated after the transfer was finalized. “Having competed against them, I am aware of how great the team I’m joining is, and I am eager to contribute to its desire to capture significant trophies.
“Under Erik ten Hag, the club has advanced significantly, as can be seen by everyone. After meeting with the management and learning about his goals, I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming seasons and am prepared to put in the necessary effort.
“I have a really high level of ambition; I understand how fantastic it is to win significant trophies and what it takes to do it. I will do anything to have that experience at Manchester United once more.
Injury forced Mount to miss the rest of the 2022–23 campaign, but on August 14 when United visit Wolves in their Premier League debut, he might make his competitive debut for his new team. The first league match between his former and current clubs will take place at Old Trafford in December, so he will have to wait until then for a Chelsea reunion.