Manchester United have made a statement of intent with a move for Matheus Cunha.
Ineos are not wasting any time in summer 2025, already confirming a deal to sign Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.
Cunha cost a transfer fee of £62.5 million, the club’s seventh most expensive transfer deal of all time.
But it is not the cost that has caught our attention, it is the speed, with Manchester United confirming the move as early as June 1.
History in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has shown this is the earliest Manchester United have concluded a summer transfer deal, and the first deal agreed in June since 2019.
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Summer 2013
Marouane Fellaini: September 2, £27.5 million
The least said about this one the better. A disastrous transfer window in the crucial first window after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. David Moyes was set up for failure with Ed Woodward failing to make a single signing before a desperate move for Marouane Fellaini on deadline day.
Summer 2014
Ander Herrera: June 26, £29 million
Having tried and failed to sign Ander Herrera in 2013, Manchester United tied up a deal for Ander Herrera pretty promptly in 2014, signing him on June 26. This was followed up with a deal to sign Luke Shaw one day later.
Summer 2015
Memphis Depay, June 12, £31 million
Manchester United moved quickly to sign Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven in 2015, wrapping up a deal in early June. With Louis van Gaal managing Depay previously for the Netherlands, this move looked a no-brainer, but it did not work out very well.
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Summer 2016
Eric Bailly, June 8, £30 million
The Jose Mourinho era got off to a great start with United making an early move to sign centre-back Eric Bailly. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba later joining, this was a positive window.
Summer 2017
Victor Lindelof, June 15, £31 million
Another swift move, Manchester United doubled down on defence by signing Victor Lindelof, who had a mixed spell during his eight years for the club, with his contract soon set to expire.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Summer 2018
Diogo Dalot, June 6, £19 million
The 2018 window actually got off to a fantastic start, with the move for Diogo Dalot followed by signing Fred. Unfortunately United did not follow up, with Jose Mourinho enraged by the only further signing that summer being back-up goalkeeper Lee Grant.
Summer 2019
Dan James, June 12, £15 million
Dan James became Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first summer signing. Aaron Wan-Bissaka joined him in early July, with the Harry Maguire deal dragging on until August.
Summer 2020
Donny van de Beek, September 2, £35 million
An outlier due to Covid, the transfer window opened late due to the delayed ending to the 2019/20 season. Even so, United were late movers, waiting until the October transfer deadline to do most of the club’s business.
Summer 2021
Tom Heaton, July 2, Free
Free agent Tom Heaton became Manchester United’s first summer signing of 2021. A deal for Jadon Sancho was concluded a fortnight later. This window famously ended with Cristiano Ronaldo re-signing on deadline day.
Summer 2022
Tyrell Malacia, July 5, £13 million
Erik ten Hag’s first summer transfer window saw only one player signed in time for the club’s pre-season tour, Tyrell Malacia. A deal for Christian Eriksen went through 10 days later.
Summer 2023
Mason Mount, July 5, £55 million
Manchester United anchored the 2023 window around a deal for Mason Mount. The jury is still out on whether this was a wise move or not.
Summer 2024
Joshua Zirkzee, July 14, £36 million
The European Championships delayed United’s transfer business, after the club were unable to get any deals done before the tournament. Joshua Zirkzee joined on July 14, but missed pre-season.
Summer 2025
Matheus Cunha, June 1, £62.5 million
A notably rare deal for Manchester United, Matheus Cunha’s signing is the earliest in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. It’s also the first June deal since 2019.