Manchester United has closed a deal for Matheus Cunha van Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Cunha is the first forward signing of Ruben Amorim since the Portuguese boss arrived in November 2024.
Man Utd met the £ 62.5 million release clause in the contract of the 26-year-old after he has agreed to a payment structure for two years.
Sky Sports News reported that the two clubs were in contact with regard to payments after United originally wanted to pay the figure for more than five years, but then agreed to meet the conditions of Wolves with three parts for two years.
Despite the interest of other teams, Cunha wanted to play for United. He thinks United is one of the largest clubs in the world and was not deterred because they miss Champions League football after their defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final.
One source told Sky Sports News the 26-year-old “Loves United”.
Five Premier League teams, including United, wanted to sign the Brazil -International this summer.
Arsenal and Aston Villa belonged to those who found exploratory conversations this year about signing the Brazil international. Saudi Pro League clubs were also willing to activate his release clause.
The attacker, signed from Atletico Madrid in 2022 for around £ 34 million, registered 15 goals and six assists about his 33 performances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season.
Neville: Cunha will match the Amorim system
Former Manchester United -defender Gary Neville speaks with Sky Sports News:
“Manchester United is desperate in that position. You think of what Manchester United is playing now, they have Jadon Sancho, [Marcus] Rashford and Antony go, so three players who are natural players who travel with the ball.
'They play with it [Alejandro] Garnacho right now, but then they are crooked. On the other hand, sometimes it is [Joshua] Zirkzee when he was fit, or they have Bruno Fernandes perform in moments. Mason Mount's come in there, but they need someone who can beat players, someone who walks through the middle just as well and travels with the ball and goes wide and supports the wingback.
“Cunha is the type of player that matches this system that Ruben wants to play Amorim.
“They have lost three players who play in that kind of position, so they have to fulfill that, they should definitely fulfill those roles or otherwise they will struggle.
“They have to score goals. Ruben Amorim said on the weekend that they just have trouble scoring goals, so you need players who can take risks, good in the last third part, and Cunha has a lot of ability.”
Why Maverick Cunha fits well with Man Utd – but also a risk
Sky Sports' Adam Bate:
Speaking with Cunha on the Wolves training field last summer, it was a chance to ask him how important it is that he has the feeling that he has fun on the football field. “I don't want to go on the field and be a robot,” he replied. “I want to enjoy it.”
View Cunha Play and that approach to the game shines through. Sometimes he can seem to wander where he chooses and makes decisions from the cuff. But those decisions are often exciting. He is an outsider in a sport that feels more and more coached.
In the context of Gary Neville's comments about the recent Manchester derby that is “boring” and the subsequent reports that connect United with a movement for the Brazilian attacker, Cunha all makes one of the more intriguing transfer goals of the summer window.
Why? Because at one level Cunha is completely logical in one of those no. 10 rolls within the 3-4-3 system of Ruben Amorim. He is already playing for wolves there. He can score goals, but also make them for others. His release costs of £ 64 million offers clarity for United.
On the other hand, there are questions about his temperament and while Cunha, who becomes 26 in May, is at the right age to make the big move of his career, some will ask if he can adapt to the requirements and can consistently deliver within an organized pressure structure.