United Reach Van Persie Agreement

Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign Arsenal captain Robin van Persie, the club have confirmed.

Van Persie, 29, finished as the Premier League's top scorer last season after netting 30 times during the 2011/12 campaign.

However, the Holland striker has opted against extending his contract at The Emirates, which was due to expire in the summer of 2013, sparking a three-way battle for his signature between United, neighbours Manchester City and Italian side Juventus.

"Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Arsenal Football Club for the transfer of Robin Van Persie," a statement read.

"The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course."

Van Persie won the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Football Writers' Player of the Year award last season, on top of his golden boot. He leaves Arsenal with a total of 96 goals in 194 games for the club.

The former Feyenoord player follows both Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy, who both joined Manchester City last summer, in leaving the club in the final year of his contract.

Additionally, he becomes the latest Arsenal club captain to leave the club under something of a cloud, following the departures of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas.

The addition of Van Persie is a significant addition to a United squad looking to wrestle the title away from neighbours City, following the signings of Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell earlier this summer.

United, who have won the English league title a record 19 times, can now boast last season's two highest scorers in Van Persie and Wayne Rooney, who netted 27 times last term.

It was United's inability to score at a consistent rate which eventually cost them the league title last season, as City claimed their first domestic title for 44 years on goal difference, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side often criticised for lacking a cutting edge.

Having often played second fiddle to City in the transfer market in recent years, Ferguson will claim a major victory in signing a player who was among the Blues' top summer targets.