Zlatan Ibrahimovic rejoins Manchester United and signs a one-year contract

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rejoined Manchester United on a one-year contract with the Swede, who scored 28 goals in 46 games for the club last season before sustaining a knee injury, saying he had returned “to finish what I started”.

The news will provide a further boost to United, who have started the Premier League season with two emphatic victories, and Ibrahimovic’s arrival offers José Mourinho more options up front.

United’s main problem last season was goalscoring and they signed Romelu Lukaku from Everton for £75m in the summer. Lukaku has three league goals already (two against West Ham United and one against Swansea City) but Mourinho will need back-up to the Belgian, especially with a Champions League campaign to deal with.

Mourinho had hinted in the summer that he would like to see the 35-year-old Ibrahimovic back in the squad, because of what he offers on and off the pitch, and said : “We are delighted Zlatan is on the road to recovery and we are equally delighted to have his ambition and experience back with us. After his contribution last season he deserves our trust and we will be patient waiting for him to return. I have no doubt that he will be important in the second part of the season.”

Ibrahimovic, who has been linked with a move to Los Angeles Galaxy as well as his former club Milan this summer, said: “I am back to finish what I started. It was always mine and the club’s intention for me to stay. I cannot wait to get back out on that Old Trafford pitch, but I also know that I have to take my time to make sure that I am ready. I have been working hard and will continue to do so to make sure I am in the best possible condition for my return to the pitch.”

Ibrahimovic damaged knee ligaments in April during the Europa League quarter-final tie against Anderlecht and underwent surgery soon after. United offered him the use of their Carrington facilities to carry out his rehabilitation and Mourinho kept a keen eye on the player’s recovery.

On Sunday Ibrahimovic posted a video on Twitter challenging his followers to guess which knee he had damaged as he showed off his taekwondo moves – the Swede is a black belt in the martial art – on a punch bag.

It was originally uncertain whether Ibrahimovic would play again in 2017 but the footage suggested the striker was well ahead of schedule in his recovery. On Thursday, after his return to United had been announced, he took tweeted: “I UNITED it,” above an image of him arm-wrestling Satan.

In an interview with ESPN he said had turned down offers from elsewhere. “There were a couple of teams reaching out, wanting ‘Ibra-kadabra’ in their team, but I had such a great year with United, we had a great year, we won three trophies. Fantastic guys, great club.”

Ibrahimovic becomes United’s fourth summer signing following the deal for another Swede, Victor Lindelof, Lukaku and Nemanja Matic from Chelsea.