Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee joined United in the summer of 2024 from Serie A side Bologna, signing a five-year deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until June 2029.
A versatile forward capable of playing as the spearhead of an attacking unit, or in a deeper position or out wide, he began his career as a youth player at ADO Den Haag and then Feyenoord.
In 2017, he moved to German giants Bayern Munich, scoring four first-team goals in 17 appearances, before embarking on loan spells in Italy (Parma) and Belgium (Anderlecht). In the latter country, during the 2021/22 season, he carved out something of a breakthrough season, netting 18 goals and earning a permanent move to Bologna.
There, Zirkzee really began to flourish. In the 2023/24 season, playing predominantly as a lone striker, he fired home 11 league goals and provided five assists, helping the club qualify for the Champions League/European Cup for the first since the 1960s.
Those performances earned him Serie A's Under-23 Player of the Year award, and a belated call-up for the Netherlands' Euro 2024 squad. In the quarter-final victory over Turkey, Zirkzee came on to win his first international cap at senior level.
Days after Holland's semi-final elimination to England in Dortmund, Zirkzee completed his move to United. A tall, physical centre-forward, he also possesses a smooth dribbling style that is fairly uncommon for strikers of his size. Together, those attributes have earned him a reputation as one of the most interesting young players in the major European leagues.
After joining the club, he told club media: "Having had discussions with the manager and the leaders of the club, I know how exciting the future is going to be here and I cannot wait to play my part in achieving success for Manchester United.
"I am a player who has always dedicated everything to winning; I’m ready for this next challenge, to go to another level in my career and win more trophies."
