'Here we go' - Fabrizio Romano says £9.6m Manchester United transfer is all-but completed

Manchester United defender Willy Kambwala is set to undergo a medical at Villarreal on Sunday ahead of a move to the La Liga club, according to reports.

A deal worth up to €11.5m (£9.68m) and five -year contract have been agreed. The Spanish club will pay an initial €5.5m (£4.63m) up front with the rest of the agreed total fee being paid if potential add-ons are met.

According to BBC Sport and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United have agreed a buy-back and sell-on clause for Kambwala with the deal set to be wrapped up in the coming days once the medical is completed.

Kambwala attended United’s pre-season training during the week but is now set to move away after making 10 appearances under Erik ten Hag last season. With the Old Trafford outfit keen to stay on the right side of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, the departure of an academy product represents pure profit and one which ‘makes sense’ for United bosses, according to BBC Sport.

His senior debut came against West Ham United in December 2023, as he started the game amid a number of injuries in defence. His second start came as the Red Devils drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Old Trafford in April.

Reflecting on the player’s debut back in December, Ten Hag said: “He makes a good impression in training and during games of the Under-21s. So we decided to play him. I think he has shown he has the capabilities. I think his performance was very solid. You can see has a very bright future. Of course he has to work on himself, but you can see his potential and we are very pleased, I think, with his performance. As we’ve seen in this game, I think we have we seen many skills for a modern centre-back and as I say, I’m very pleased with his performance.”

The 19-year-old, who has represented France at Under-20 level, also featured in the early rounds of the FA Cup as United went on to lift the trophy by beating rivals Manchester City at Wembley back in May.

Speaking about his football journey in an interview with ManUtd.com earlier this year, the player said: “To do something in your life, you have to dream. Then you have to fight for it. It’s easy to dream because it’s free. But to fight for it, that’s when it becomes more complicated because you don’t know what you’re going to have on your journey.

“Every journey is different. Don’t watch others because you don’t know what will happen. One day you’re on the top, another you’re down. So fight for your dream and don’t let people say you can’t do it. If you want to do it, you can do it — it’s possible. So fight for it! Be confident in yourself. Keep your feet on the floor as well.

“Don’t fly. Don’t think you are too big or too good because there are a lot of people with the same dream as you and they can take your place. So keep your feet on the floor and say ‘this is the level I’m at now but I know where I want to go’. There’s a lot of up and down but that’s the thing that’s going to make you stronger, more resilient and more mature as a player or just as a human. I think that’s the best thing I can say.”