Michael Owen has completed his surprise move to Manchester United after the free agent signed a two-year deal with the Premier League champions.

The 29-year-old ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid striker's contract with Newcastle ended earlier this week.

"Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Owen had also been linked with Everton, Aston Villa, Stoke and Hull.

But instead he becomes United's second summer signing after the recent addition of Antonio Valencia from Wigan.

"Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish," added Ferguson.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Juliette Ferrington said United's interest had come as a surprise to the player.

"Owen says he got a call on Thursday from Sir Alex Ferguson out of the blue," she said. "He says he was about to start talking to other clubs. No wonder he was all smiles after he emerged from a three-hour medical.

"I should imagine it has been a pretty crazy 48 hours for him but I'm sure he will be celebrating now."

Owen had checks on an old knee injury in London on Thursday before undergoing a full medical at the private Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester on Friday.

He has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, suffering with groin, ankle, thigh, hernia, metatarsal and knee ligament problems.

The 2001 European footballer of the year has dropped out of the England squad, but a move to United gives Owen the chance to revitalise his career, even if it involved accepting a lower basic salary.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long time admirer of Michael Owen and has decided to gamble on the striker who has proven himself a prolific scorer at both club and international level when fit.

Since losing the Champions League final to Barcelona at the end of May, Manchester United have sold forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m and failed to persuade striker Carlos Tevez to stay at Old Trafford.

The departure of those two players has left United manager Sir Alex Ferguson with a shortage of strikers, with Fraizer Campbell also likely to be sold.

United have made another summer signing - 15-year-old defender Sean McGinty from Charlton Athletic.

The promising centre-half had been offered scholarship terms by the London club but with the Reds having tracked him for some time, McGinty has opted to switch to Old Trafford.

Although the Republic of Ireland U17 international is not contracted to the Addicks, the two clubs have agreed an undisclosed compensation package, which includes additional fees depending on the player’s progress at United.

Charlton chairman Richard Murray said: “To have a club like Manchester United tracking your youth players clearly shows the quality that our academy is currently producing.

“Of course, nothing would have made us happier than Sean coming through the ranks and representing our first team, and our coaches had high hopes for him. We did our utmost to persuade him to stay, but joining such a big Premier League club is obviously an attractive prospect, and Sean and his family made it clear that they wanted to move north to United.”

Murray added: “Manchester United have behaved entirely honourably throughout the process, and I’d like to thank them for that.”

Although only 15, McGinty represented both Charlton’s U18 side and reserves last season.

United are poised to make a £16million swoop for Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano after missing out on Karim Benzema so ManUtdPeople believes.

Benzema’s £32m move to Real Madrid meant United chief Sir Alex Ferguson had to rethink his targets to replace outgoing Carlos Tevez.

And Sevilla hitman Fabiano, top scorer with five goals in Brazil’s Confederations Cup triumph last month, is the new name in the frame – although United will have to see off AC Milan to land him.

The San Siro side have made an opening £13m bid even though his release clause values the 28-year-old at £55m.

Milan believe Fabiano, who has scored 47 goals in 105 games for Sevilla since joining them from Porto in 2005, is ready to leave Spain for a new challenge.

But United, with £64m still in the bank after recruiting Wigan’s Antonio Valencia to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, have the financial firepower to outbid the Italian giants.

Now the big news,Owen to join United.
Any views on this?I think it's a great gamble!!Ok,he's not the player he was but if he stays fit,i think he can get fifteen goals and over,he'll be a success.I don't think Newcastle was a good team for him with the lack of quality there but he still got ten goals...besides ,what have we got to lose?no big transfer fee,no big wages and you never know,i think he still has a lot of offer up front.
I say let's back the Gaffer and get behind Michael Owen...forget he played for liverpool and hopefully he will score a hatrick agains them..
Having said that,it's disappointing and a worry that no quality player has come to United yet..
Where did Real Madrid get all this money from anyway????

Apparently Michael Owen people are talking to David Gill about a possible move to Utd.A proven goalscorer of course but questions you would have thought over his fitness must be a concern?.I think he would be a good addition to the squad and a real fox in the box for Utd.

United are in talks to sign former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen, ManUtdPeople understands.

The 29-year-old, who is out of contract at Newcastle, did not return for pre-season training after his deal with the Magpies ran out in June.

Owen has been linked with Everton, Aston Villa, Stoke and Hull but now looks set to sign for the Old Trafford club, pending a medical on Friday.

"We don't comment on transfer rumours," a Red Devils spokesman told ManUtdPeople

Owen has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, suffering with groin, ankle, thigh, hernia, metatarsal and knee ligament problems.

The 2001 European footballer of the year and former Real Madrid striker has dropped out of the England squad, but a potential move to the Premier League champions would give Owen the chance to revitalise his career.

"Sources close to the player have suggested to me that a medical will take place on Friday," BBC Radio 5 Live's Juliette Ferrington reported from Manchester.

"He has already completed one test on his knee and should he come through Friday's test he'll sign on a free transfer.

"Contract talks continued late into the night. It would represent a major turnaround for the England striker who has been hampered by injury problems.

"Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long time admirer of Michael Owen and it looks like he has made his move."

Since losing the Champions League final to Barcelona at the end of May, the Premier League holders have sold forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m and failed to persuade striker Carlos Tevez to stay at Old Trafford.

The departure of those two players has left United manager Sir Alex Ferguson with a shortage of strikers, with Frazier Campbell also likely to be sold.

However, Ferguson did bring in winger Antonio Valencia from Wigan on Tuesday.

United were also linked with Lyon striker Karim Benzema, who is set to join Real, while Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery has been linked with a move to the Madrid club rather than the English champions.

Owen made 79 appearances for the Magpies and scored 30 goals in four seasons at St James' Park.

But an ankle injury and groin operation severely disrupted his final year at the club, with the last of his 10 league goals for the 2008-09 campaign coming against West Ham on 10 January.

If Ferguson does capture Owen, it would be reminiscent of his willingness to take a chance on players like the enigmatic Eric Cantona or stars that have suffered serious injury problems like Henrik Larsson.

"United have definitely made a move," said Pete Spencer, sports editor of the Manchester Evening News. "It is a bold move. It could put them at risk of the fans mocking them because they've missed out on Benzema and Ribery.

"Owen will have a lot to do make sure that he overcomes the natural hatred between Manchester United and Liverpool, although he has been at Newcastle for some time.


Owen Was Seen In Manchester On Friday where United Apparently Put Him Through A Medical.