Manchester United complete £50m signing of striker from Ligue 1 club
Manchester United have signed French striker Alexandre Lacombe from Lille for an initial £50m fee, the Premier League club confirmed on Thursday. The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract with an option for a further season, ending a five-year spell with the Ligue 1 side where he scored 68 goals in 142 appearances.
Lacombe's move addresses United's urgent need for attacking reinforcements following Anthony Martial's departure. The former France U21 international arrives after his most productive season, netting 20 league goals in 2023-24 to finish third in Ligue 1's scoring charts. Lille will receive £50m guaranteed with potential add-ons taking the total package to £58m based on performance targets.
According to Sky Sports, United moved swiftly to secure the deal after initial interest from Serie A champions Inter Milan cooled last week. The transfer represents Lille's second-highest sale in club history, following Nicolas Pépé's £72m move to Arsenal in 2019.
For Erik ten Hag's side, the acquisition provides a proven goalscorer to lead the line alongside Rasmus Højlund. Lacombe's physical presence and aerial ability (winning 4.1 duels per 90 last season) offer a different dimension to United's attack. Lille president Olivier Létang told the club's website the sale helps 'rebalance finances while maintaining competitiveness' following their fourth-place Ligue 1 finish.
The striker becomes United's first major summer signing as they prepare for Champions League football, with further defensive reinforcements expected. His arrival allows Marcus Rashford to return to a preferred left-wing role, while easing pressure on 21-year-old Højlund to carry the goalscoring burden alone.