Manchester United have today confirmed the first signing of the summer with Feyenood’s Tyrell Malacia being unveiled as a Red.

The left-back has been secured for a bargain of £14.6m and will be competing for his place with Luke Shaw, Alex Telles and Brandon Williams.

Speaking to the club’s official site, Malacia has revealed that his conversations with his former teammate and Feyenoord’s current assistant manager, Robin van Persie, as well as fellow Dutchman Tahith Chong, sold the club to him.

I think I cannot describe the feeling. So much has happened in the last few weeks and I am happy to be here. I didn’t speak to anyone about this decision. I spoke in the past with Robin and I played with him and spoke with him about his experience in Manchester. He says they’re the biggest club and the feeling was good, and he loved it here. I always had contact with Tahith after he moved to England, so yeah, it was always a good feeling here.

It is the biggest club in the world, and you can see it because of the fans, the great stadium, a lot of prizes [won]. With the new coach, he wants to build to be winning prizes again and I want to be part of that team.

Malacia will be the newest Dutch arrival at Carrington, with manager Erik ten Hag and coach Mitchell van der Gaag, as well as players Donny van de Beek and Chong, which he says makes the transition easier.

It makes it easier, but I met some of the players this morning already and they give me a good feeling and a welcome over here, so I feel like I’m at home already. I spoke with him (Ten Hag) on the phone when everything was agreed, and it was a really positive vibe and feeling and he wants to improve everything and wants to win prizes so I’m looking forward to it.

Malacia is fan of former United left-back Patrice Evra but has set his sights on having an ever better career than the Frenchman at Old Trafford.

I love his style. Everything is fast, energetic. I want to do even better. I know it’s going to be difficult, but I set the bar high for myself. It’s what I want.

As a footballer, I am strong in defence. I love to attack. Yeah, I have good drive and never give up. I spoke with the coach, and he gave me some things I have to work on, but he says it will come with time.