Manchester United announce Zlatan Ibrahimovic signing

The 34-year-old joins Jose Mourinho's side on a one-year deal with an option for a further year after the expiration of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, for whom he scored 156 goals in 180 games.

United posted a short video on their Twitter account of Sweden's record all-time goalscorer wearing a United shirt and saying "it's Zlatan time".

Ibrahimovic had already that he would be joining United

He reunites with Mourinho in Manchester after previously working with the Portuguese at Inter, and is the club's second signing of the summer window after Villarreal defender Eric Bailly.

The Swede, who started his career with Malmo in his home country, boasts 13 league titles across spells with Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and PSG - although the two he won with Juve were subsequently revoked due to Calciopoli.

His capture is a big statement of intent by United as they seek to regain their place in the Champions League and, with Mourinho at the helm, challenge for honours.

Ibrahimovic won Serie A with Mourinho in 2008-09, scoring 25 goals in 35 league games before being lured to Barcelona that summer. He is excited by the prospect of playing for him once again.

"I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League. It goes without saying that I cannot wait to work with Jose Mourinho again. He is a fantastic manager and I am ready for this new and exciting challenge.

Mourinho highlighted the incredible record of a player who has scored 392 goals in 677 club matches, as well as 62 goals in 116 caps for Sweden. However, he also highlighted the role Ibrahimovic will play in helping to develop young players such as Marcus Rashford.

"Zlatan needs no introduction. The statistics speak for themselves. Ibra is one of the best strikers in the world and a player who always gives 100%.

"I am certain that his talent will delight fans at Old Trafford next season and that his experience will be invaluable in helping to develop the younger players in the squad."

If the significance of this signing was not already clear, the fact that Instagram and Twitter have been leveraged to bring this news to the world show that United are keen to make a song and dance about signing one of the most compelling characters in football. United's recruitment policy is all about big names and they don't come much bigger than Zlatan: his capture is a huge publicity coup and will give United a big commercial boost.

What really matters, though, is football, and signing a striker who just scored 38 goals in 31 league games is a big sporting boost for United. Okay, at 34 he is hardly a long-term option, but Ibrahimovic has the personality and character to lead the United line next season - and just think what Marcus Rashford will learn from him. Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney's evolution into a midfielder just gathered pace...