Ashley Young today has finally completed his much anticipated deal to join Manchester United from Aston Villa today on a five-year contract.

The 25-year-old, who had also been targeted by Liverpool, completed his medial yesterday and the move was completed today.

A statement on the manutd.com read: “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Ashley Young.

“The player passed a medical in Manchester this week and has agreed a five-year contract.”

Young’s move to Old Trafford, for a reported £16million fee, had been widely anticipated for some time after he announced that he was keen to play at the very highest level. Liverpool were also rumoured to have been interested in the winger, but Young chose United over them.

Young of course has become an England regular recently and is firmly in Fabio Capello’s plans as the Italian looks to end his spell in charge by leading England to Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine next year.

Young has been one of the Premier League’s best midfielders in recent years and in 5 seasons in England’s top-flight has scored 32 goals with 53 assists during that time for Watford and Villa.

Probably Young’s greatest asset is his set-piece delivery taking which has become one of the best in the league as a result of the amount of goal-scoring opportunities his crosses create.

With Ryan Giggs nearing the end of his career, signing Young could be a great move by Sir Alex Ferguson as Young is the kind of player who could learn from our legendary Welshman about how to become an even better player.

Young has the talent and intelligence to probably become Giggsy’s long-term replacement for us as with his crossing ability and pace that he has at the moment; there are a lot of similarities between the two.

With the recently Phil Jones signed a fortnight ago, Young becomes our second young-English signing this summer and will join Nani and Antonio Valencia at the club in the wingers-department.

It remains to be seen what numbers the two will be given, but Jones is likely to inherit the vacant no.4 (left by Owen Hargreaves) or no.6 (should Wes Brown as expected leaves the club).  

As for Young nobody knows, but whatever number he’ll be wearing he’ll be an exciting player to watch at United for many years to come.

By Adam Dennehey – @ADennehey87