Manchester United striker James Wilson has moved to Aberdeen on a season-long loan. The 22-year-old will fill the gap in Derek McInnes’ squad left after Adam Rooney’s switch to Salford over the summer.
England Under-21 international Wilson spent the second half of last season at Sheffield United and has had previous spells at Brighton and Derby.
McInnes told Aberdeen’s official website: “I am absolutely delighted to secure James on a season-long loan as he is a player I feel will very quickly become an important member of the squad for us.
“He is a real quality player, who I think will suit the way we play, and, having spoken to him, I think he sees this move as a real opportunity for him.
“There were other clubs interested in taking James but he feels this is the right place for him to continue his development.”
Wilson first hit the headlines when he scored twice on his United debut in a 3-1 win over Hull City as an 18-year-old.
But he has since only made six starts – and 14 substitute appearances, scoring twice more – for the English Premier League club.
He has had three spells on loan to Championship clubs – Brighton and Hove Albion, Derby County and Sheffield United – and scored once in nine games for the Blades at the end of last season.
“Having spoken to him, I think he sees this move as a real opportunity for him,” McInnes said.
“There were other clubs interested in taking James, but he feels this is the right place for him to continue his development.”
Wilson, whose progress was hampered by a serious knee injury while on loan to Derby, is contracted to United until summer 2019 with an option to extend that by a further year.
McInnes has been looking to strengthen his striking options this summer and that search intensified after last season’s top scorer, Adam Rooney, was sold to Salford City. Wilson made one appearance for the England under-16 team, helping England towards a 10th successive Victory Shield title in a 3–0 win against Northern Ireland in March 2011.In October 2013, Wilson scored on his England under-19 debut in a 6–1 win against Estonia. On 3 September 2015, Wilson scored on his England under-21 debut and only cap in a 1–0 win against the United States.