MANCHESTER, England — Staring straight into the digicam, Mason Mount bid an emotional farewell to Chelsea followers on Tuesday because the England worldwide closes in on a transfer to Manchester United.

Mount, who was a graduate of Chelsea’s famed academy, spent 18 years on the London membership.

Now he's about to hitch its Premier League rival United in a 55-million-pound ($69-million) deal and is ready to signal a five-year contract.

“Given the speculation over the last six months this may not come as a surprise to you, but it doesn’t make it any easier to tell that I’ve made the decision to leave Chelsea,” he stated in a video message posted on Instagram. “I know some of you won’t be happy with my decision but it is what’s right for me at this moment in my career.”

Mount, sporting bleached blonde hair and a tan from a latest vacation, stated followers deserved greater than “just a written statement,” including “we’ve been through a lot together.”

“I wanted to tell you how grateful I’ve been for all of your support over the last 18 years,” he stated.

The midfielder joined Chelsea when he was 6 years previous and have become a fan favourite after rising by the ranks to turn into a key participant within the membership’s Champions League triumph in 2021.

He made 195 appearances and scored 33 targets. He went from being named the membership’s academy participant of the 12 months in 2017, to successful the primary crew participant of the 12 months award in 2021 and 2022.

During his time at Chelsea, the 24-year-old Mount additionally established himself as a daily for England.

Now he's set to start the following chapter of his profession at United, with supervisor Erik ten Hag making him a key goal forward of the membership’s return to the Champions League subsequent season.

Mount’s contract at United may have the choice of an extra 12 months.

United may even need to pay an additional 5 million kilos ($6.3 million) to Chelsea based mostly on him assembly sure targets.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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