Manchester United have completed the signing of Independiente striker Diego Forlan, for Stg£7.5 million.
The 22-year-old passed a medical this afternoon before securing a four-and-a-half-year contract with the club.
He will not be eligible for United's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough on Saturday but will be available for the league game against Bolton on January 29th.
United manager Alex Ferguson said: "I am delighted that Diego has agreed to join us. He is an exciting player who has plenty of talent and a bright future ahead of him."
"I am sure he will come and play well at United," he said.
Ferguson continued: "We've watched him three times and think he has good potential, two good feet, he's quick and a good header of the ball. At 22 he represents a good future."
Forlan declared himself "very happy" to be a United player and stated his intention to make an immediate impression.
He said: "I'll try to be useful for the team and if I can't score I'll try and help the team to score.
"But I'm very happy to be here - it's something when I was a child I dreamed about.
"When I came to see the match (on Saturday when they beat Blackburn 2-1) I was surprised by all the people - and I saw they are a very good team." - PA