Man United have agreed a fee with Bayern Munich for Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, with the proposed deal now subject to personal terms and a medical.
The clubs have been in negotiations for the last few days and the German giants confirmed the latest development at a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
United have also stated the deal is progressing, as has Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"My colleagues at Manchester United have been in touch and we have reached an agreement over the transfer," he said.
"Bastian wants to do something new at the end of his career and he asked that we meet his wishes.
"It is regrettable because Bastian meant a great deal to the club and achieved great things."
Schweinsteiger, 30, who had a year left to run on his current contract with Bayern, is back in Munich after spending time in London watching his girlfriend Ana Ivanovic playing at Wimbledon.
Schweinsteiger played under United boss Louis van Gaal at Bayern, winning a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, part of his collection of eight Bundesliga titles and seven domestic cup triumphs for the Bavarian club.
Sky Deutschland reporter Uli Koehler told Sky Sports News HQ ahead of the press conference: "The deal is almost set. Both parties know they want the move. Bayern always said Bastian could decide by himself, whether he wants to move on to England or not. And I can tell you Manchester United and the Premier League can be proud to get such a character and such a player."
The imminent departure of Schweinsteiger has upset Bayern fans, with coach Pep Guardiola and the club’s board under fire on social media on Saturday.
Koehler added: "Bastian Schweinsteiger is a hero here, he is an icon. He is the captain of the German national team. He played 500 games for Bayern. You can compare him to Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, John Terry - that is the kind of character who is now leaving Munich. So the fans regret it very much."
Koehler says that Van Gaal's relationship with Schweinsteiger from their days together at Bayern was the clincher for United.
"I think this was the key factor - that Louis van Gaal wanted him," he said. "When Van Gaal was at Munich he set Schweinsteiger’s position in central midfield as a defender. Before he was more attacking. He became world class under Van Gaal. He and Van Gaal are really close. He trusts him, they trust each other. He didn’t feel the trust from Pep Guardiola. Guardiola’s system always forces him into some sprints to the back.
"Schweinsteiger is not a sprinter any more. He is not the fastest player on the pitch and everybody knows it. But in the system of Guardiola he had to do these things. They system doesn't suit him. The system of Van Gaal suits him much better. He can be a leader of the team.
"He didn't feel that Pep Guardiola really wants him in the team. That was one key reason. But another…I did an interview with him when he came into the first team here for the first time - he was 17 or 18. He said at the time 'I have one dream in my career as a footballer. I want to play in England one day.'
"Now this day is coming."
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