Alexander Buttner delighted to complete £4m move to United

• zocoss

  20 Aug 12, 09:25

  Alexander Buttner joins Manchester United as defensive cover

  • Vitesse Arnhem player moves as back-up to Patrice Evra
  • Transfer causes some surprise in Holland

  United swoop for £4m Butt

  

  SHOCK IMPORT ... Alex Buttner

   

  

  Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, has bought Alexander Buttner as cover for Patrice Evra.

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  Manchester United have bought the left-back Alexander Buttner from Vitesse Arnhem, according to the Dutch club. The fee is undisclosed but is not thought to be more than £3.9m for a player who has never been capped by Holland.

  Buttner, 23, has been bought by Sir Alex Ferguson as cover for Patrice Evra, with Fabio Da Silva, his former understudy, on loan at Queens Park Rangers.

  Buttner had also interested QPR and Southampton before his transfer to Old Trafford.

  Although he is yet to play for Holland he was part of a pre-Euro 2012 squad that trained while some of the senior players took a break.

  The move to United has caused some surprise in Holland as he is still considered a player of raw potential.

  Buttner said: "I'm travelling to Manchester this evening [Sunday] and I'm very delighted that such a big club bought me."

  The Dutch ace, 23, said: “This is a dream come true.” 

  He had threatened to go to the Dutch FA to force a move to England.

   

• zocoss

  20 Aug 12, 09:32

  Fergie closing on Evra stand-in as Vitesse's Buttner flies in for medical

  

  Dream move: Alexander Buttner is set to join Manchester United

   

   

  Manchester United will bolster their ranks with the £3.9million signing of defender Alexander Buttner from Vitesse Arnhem.

  The 23-year-old left-back flew to England on Sunday to undergo a medical with United ahead of penning a five-year contract. 

  ‘If you had told me one week ago that I would be training with and playing for the same team as Robin van Persie, I would have sent you to a mental home!,' Buttner said.

  'This is crazy stuff, beyond all my dreams. I am looking forward to this challenge so much. I am so proud and so glad that it has worked out like this.

  ‘I’m so glad that it has happened and everything has turned out like this. This is really a dream come true.’

  Buttner has been regularly linked with a move to England this summer and had looked poised to join Southampton with Vitesse announcing in July they had agreed a deal with the Barclays Premier League newcomers, but that switch fell through.

  Buttner, who can also operate at right-back, came through the youth system at Vitesse.

  The Doetinchem-born player made 107 appearances for the Dutch club and had been named in Holland's provisional 36-man squad for Euro 2012, although did not eventually go to the finals.

• zocoss

  20 Aug 12, 22:28

  Buttner undergoes medical ahead of his £4m switch to Manchester United
  

  

   

  

   

  On his way: Alexander Buttner arrives for his Manchester United medical

   

   

  Close shave: Buttner shows off his tight trim as he arrives for his tests

   

   

  Date of birth   -  11 February 1989

  Age 23

  Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)

  Playing position Left Back

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  Patrice Latyr Evra

  Date of birth 15 May 1981

  Age 31

  Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)

  Playing position Left Back

   

   

  Alexander Buttner has completed his medical ahead of sealing his £3.9million switch to Manchester United from Vitesse Arnhem.

  The 23-year-old Dutchman left-back arrived at Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester at Monday lunchtime.
  

  Unless there are any major hiccups, he will now sign a five-year contract with the Barclays Premier League giants.

• Saltiga

  21 Aug 12, 05:28

  his face spells trouble...

• zocoss

  22 Aug 12, 00:08

  Best day of my life! Buttner delighted to complete £4m move to Man United
  

   

  

  United front: Alexander Buttner has completed his £3.9million to Manchester United from Vitesse Arnhem

  
  

   

   

   

  Alexander Buttner has hailed his £4million move to Manchester United as the best day of his life.
  

  The Dutchman completed his move to the Premier League giants, signing a five-year deal.
  

  The 23-year-old moves to Old Trafford from Vitesse Arnhem, where he made 119 appearances over the past four years.
  

  The left-back, who will hope to force Patrice Evra out of the side, said: 'Joining Manchester United is one of the best days of my life. It's a team I have admired for many years now and I can't wait to join my teammates and play my part in helping the club be successful.'
  

  Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'Alexander is one of the best young left backs in Europe and we're delighted to sign him. He's someone we've been watching for a while now. He gives us some really exciting options in that position.'

• Jacky Woo

  22 Aug 12, 00:09

  4m is cheap. hope he can make good and is evra long term replacement. see how he plays first, see if he has quality first to challenge for evra.