Van Persie 'honoured' by Manchester United move

Manchester United FC have made a statement of intent ahead of the new Premier League season by signing Robin van Persie from Arsenal FC for a fee in the region of €30m.

Van Persie has put pen to paper on a four-year deal, ending an association with Arsenal that began in 2004 following his switch from Feyenoord. "It's an honour to sign for Manchester United," said the 29-year-old Netherlands forward, who could make his debut against Everton FC in Monday's Premier League opener at Goodison Park.

"I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers, bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game. I can't wait to get started," said Van Persie, whose 194 league outings for Arsenal yielded 96 goals.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson added: "Robin is a world-class striker with a proven record in England and in European football. His talents need no introduction to our fans – he has scored a number of goals against us in some classic battles with his former club. His movement, finishing and all-round ability are outstanding."

After becoming Arsenal captain last term, Van Persie thrived on the added responsibility, finishing the campaign with a career-best 30 Premier League goals, 11 of them match winners. He was duly voted player of the year by his peers within the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA). His season ended on a low note, however, after the Netherlands' UEFA EURO 2012 group-stage exit.