De Laet signs for United

By Chris,
January 8 2009

Manchester United have announced the surprise signing of Stoke defender Ritchie de Laet on loan until the end of the season. Sir Alex Ferguson had previously said that United's January activity was over, but the Reds have signed the Belgian youngster on a temporary basis – though he will only play for the reserve-team.

De Laet joined Stoke from Royal Antwerp in August 2007 but he is yet to feature for the Potters first-team.

The defender had a spell on trial at Bournemouth last summer, and made three appearances for Conference club Wrexham during a loan move earlier in the season.

That loan move to North Wales was cut short due to a double hernia - but De Laet is fully fit again and will be hoping to make the most of a spell with United.

The signing will come as a surprise to United fans. De Laet has made little impact at the Britannia Stadium and failed to secure a contract at Bournemouth last summer.

However, Warren Joyce, assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with the United reserves, managed De Laet during his time at the helm of Royal Antwerp. The Oldham-born coach is thought to be a big fan of the versatile defender.

United are tipping De Laet to pull on the red jersey for the first time on the 19^th of January with the stiffs set to take on Stockport County in the Manchester Senior Cup.

United are claiming that De Laet has joined the club on loan until the end of the current campaign, but Stoke suggest the player has left on a "performance-related contract".