Manchester United agree to sell first team midfielder to Championship club

Burnley have agreed a deal to sign Hannibal Mejbri from Manchester United on a permanent transfer.

The Manchester Evening News reported last week that United's preference was to sell Hannibal on a permanent deal but that Burnley were exploring a loan with an obligation to buy. Talks between United and Burnley have progressed since then and it's understood Hannibal underwent his medical to move to Turf Moor on a permanent transfer on Monday.

Hannibal would have been permitted to negotiate a free transfer to an overseas team in January if United had failed to arrange a deal this summer. Sources described 'wide interest' in both loan and permanent transfers for Hannibal last summer, but the decision was taken to keep him around Erik ten Hag's squad following a promising loan spell with Birmingham in 2022-23 that saw the Tunisian make 41 appearances in all competitions.

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United fought off interest from Tottenham, Barcelona and Bayern Munich to sign a young Hannibal from Monaco in a deal worth £9million in 2019. The 21-year-old progressed through the youth ranks and won United's Denzil Haroun Reserve-Team Player of the Year award for his performances in the 2020/21 campaign.

United hoped Hannibal would develop into a first-team starter, but he's been unable to nail down a regular starting place and his opportunities under Ten Hag became limited. Hannibal joined Sevilla on a six-month loan in the January transfer window and the Spaniards had the option to sign him permanently for £17million. But the move didn't go to plan as Hannibal managed just 100 minutes across six appearances and the option wasn't triggered.

Burnley