Manchester United have announced the signing of France Under-21 forward Anthony Martial from AS Monaco on a four-year contract with the option for a further year.

The 19-year-old forward is expected to bolster Louis van Gaal’s attacking options in a side that have struggled for goals this season.




Manchester United have paid a fee of £36m for Martial, who is delighted to have joined the Red Devils and said via hs club's site: "I'm so excited to join United. I've always wanted to play in the Premier League and look forward to meeting my team-mates."

Martial has become the most expensive teenager in the world and Van Gaal is hoping that the youngster eventually lives up to his hefty price tag at Old Trafford. Van Gaal said: "Anthony is a talented young forward with great potential. I believe this is the club for him to continue his development."
 


A highly-rated talent in France, Monaco snapped up the youngster in 2013 from Lyon for a fee of around €5m, which also raised eyebrows at that time as he had only a handful of Ligue 1 appearances under his belt.

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Martial scored 12 goals in 48 appearances for Monaco last season, but eight of his nine strikes in the league came in the second half of their campaign when he started playing regularly as the team’s main centre forward.

The forward is currently involved with the French national team’s preparations for their upcoming international fixtures.

He could make his Manchester United debut in their big game against Liverpool at Old Trafford after the international break.