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Manchester United have confirmed they have agreed terms for the transfer of Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund. The deal is subject to a medical and work permit.
"Manchester United is delighted to announce that it has agreed terms with both Borussia Dortmund and Shinji Kagawa for his transfer to the club," said a United statement.
"The deal is subject only to the player medical and obtaining a UK work permit. These conditions are anticipated to be completed by the end of June. Further details will be announced in due course."
Negotiations have been ongoing with the Japan international for a number of weeks. Although the deal – which is expected to initially cost around £12m and possibly rise to as much as £18m with add-ons – has been anticipated for some time, it is good news for United.
Many United fans are privately concerned about the funds being made available to Sir Alex Ferguson and felt strengthening the midfield area was an absolute imperative. Kagawa has already done enough in his two seasons in Germany to avoid the fate of Park Ji-sung, who was initially condemned as a "trophy" signing following his arrival from PSV Eindhoven in 2005, designed purely to sell shirts in the lucrative Far East market.
He was named in the Bundesliga's team of the season for 2010-11 despite being absent through injury for half the campaign. Kagawa then went on to score 16 goals last term, when Dortmund completed the domestic league and cup double.
Ferguson and his assistant, Mike Phelan, made a personal check on the 23-year-old the day before United's final match at Sunderland, when they saw Kagawa grab one goal and create another in Dortmund's 5-2 German Cup triumph over Bayern Munich.
Dortmund stand to make a healthy profit on Kagawa, who cost them £250,000 from the Japanese club Cerezo Osaka in 2006.
It is not anticipated the deal will be completed until the end of the month as Kagawa is currently on international duty and played in Japan's 3-0 World Cup qualifying round victory over Oman at the weekend.
