Manchester United sign Carrick

Manchester:

England midfielder Michael Carrick joined Manchester United on Monday in an 18.6-million-pound transfer from Tottenham. The 25-year-old Carrick completed the move after passing his medical at Old Trafford. He was United's first new signing of the summer break. United was able to meet Tottenham's asking price after it sold striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid for a reported 10 million pounds. The Red Devils are also close to signing Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna after the Brazilian-born Spaniard agreed to personal terms with the club. Carrick was the fifth most expensive signing in United history, behind Van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand, Juan Sebastien Veron, and Wayne Rooney. Carrick was the sort of player United has been looking for since the departure last season of Roy Keane, who moved to Celtic before retiring. He joined Tottenham from West Ham in August 2004 for a fee of 2.75 million pounds. (AP)