Jesus...whats up with the US goalies, first Friedel, Keller, now Tim Howard...amazing...
Manchester United have confirmed the £2,300,000 signing of American goalkeeper Tim Howard after he agreed a four-year deal at Old Trafford.
United have bought the 24-year-old's registration from Major League Soccer in the United States, with Howard's deal confirmed to the Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
Howard said: "I am overjoyed to be signing for the best club in the world and look forward to getting the business done and performing to the best of my abilities on the field."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted to have signed Howard and revealed his goalkeeper coach Tony Coton had been tracking the United States international for some time.
He said: "We have wanted Tim Howard for a while and Tony Coton has followed him for some time through his contacts in the US.
"Tim's emergence alongside America's number one goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller tells you how highly regarded he is in the States, and we are delighted to bring such a promising young keeper to the club."
The United statement read: "Manchester United is delighted to announce today that it has reached agreement with Major League Soccer for the transfer of the registration of Tim Howard for a fee of £2.3m, including associated costs.
"The player has signed a four-year contract with the club."
The United States international had his application for a work permit granted last Friday after the transfer hit a snag earlier this month when United were forced to appeal Howard's work permit application because the 24-year-old was ruled ineligible.
For a non-EU foreigner to play in England, he must have played in 75% of his country's national team games in the past two years.
Howard, who has Tourette's Syndrome, has been capped nine times by the United States and started all three matches in this summer's Confederations Cup in France. He could make his United debut on 22 July against Celtic in Portland, Oregon.
Meanwhile, Howard has spoken of how he has learned to live with Tourette's Syndrome.
The condition can cause muscle twitching and verbal outbursts.
"Tourette's Syndrome is not a problem. It is part of my life," he said. "It doesn't affect me one way or another on or off the field.
"It is unfortunate people are not as educated as they should be but that's the way of the world.
"In the match it doesn't affect me. I need to keep the ball out of the net and it will never affect me doing that job.
"Maybe there are times off the ball but even then it is not much of a problem."
Manchester United have confirmed the £2,300,000 signing of American goalkeeper Tim Howard after he agreed a four-year deal at Old Trafford.
United have bought the 24-year-old's registration from Major League Soccer in the United States, with Howard's deal confirmed to the Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
Howard said: "I am overjoyed to be signing for the best club in the world and look forward to getting the business done and performing to the best of my abilities on the field."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted to have signed Howard and revealed his goalkeeper coach Tony Coton had been tracking the United States international for some time.
He said: "We have wanted Tim Howard for a while and Tony Coton has followed him for some time through his contacts in the US.
"Tim's emergence alongside America's number one goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller tells you how highly regarded he is in the States, and we are delighted to bring such a promising young keeper to the club."
The United statement read: "Manchester United is delighted to announce today that it has reached agreement with Major League Soccer for the transfer of the registration of Tim Howard for a fee of £2.3m, including associated costs.
"The player has signed a four-year contract with the club."
The United States international had his application for a work permit granted last Friday after the transfer hit a snag earlier this month when United were forced to appeal Howard's work permit application because the 24-year-old was ruled ineligible.
For a non-EU foreigner to play in England, he must have played in 75% of his country's national team games in the past two years.
Howard, who has Tourette's Syndrome, has been capped nine times by the United States and started all three matches in this summer's Confederations Cup in France. He could make his United debut on 22 July against Celtic in Portland, Oregon.
Meanwhile, Howard has spoken of how he has learned to live with Tourette's Syndrome.
The condition can cause muscle twitching and verbal outbursts.
"Tourette's Syndrome is not a problem. It is part of my life," he said. "It doesn't affect me one way or another on or off the field.
"It is unfortunate people are not as educated as they should be but that's the way of the world.
"In the match it doesn't affect me. I need to keep the ball out of the net and it will never affect me doing that job.
"Maybe there are times off the ball but even then it is not much of a problem."
