Manchester United has officially announced that goalkeeper Radek Vitek has completed a permanent transfer to Middlesbrough for a fee that could rise to £14 million. This move marks Vitek as the highest-priced goalkeeper signing in the Championship's history.

Previously, the record was held by Leicester City with Mads Hermansen at around £6.5 million and Southampton's Daniel Peretz at £6.05 million. United has included a buy-back clause in the deal, along with matching rights and a sell-on clause of up to 35% for any future sale, ensuring they maintain a stake in Vitek's career.

Vitek expressed his desire to leave Old Trafford early in the summer, seeking a regular starting position. With Senne Lammens established as the first-choice goalkeeper and Karl Dalow brought in as the second choice, Vitek was not willing to accept a backup role.

After United's opening pre-season match against Wrexham, Vitek made it clear to reporters that he was ready to take on a starting role elsewhere. "I feel great and ready to go again somewhere to be, hopefully, number one, so we will see what is going to happen," he stated.

The Czech goalkeeper joined Manchester United's academy in 2020 from Sigma Olomouc and made a significant impact during his time there. He started every match in the successful FA Youth Cup campaign in 2021/22 and later progressed to the Under-21s. Vitek has had several loan spells, including a six-month stint at Accrington Stanley in January 2024, a season-long loan at Austrian club Blau-Weiß Linz for the 2024/25 season, and most recently, a loan at Bristol City, where he gained valuable Championship experience.

His move to Middlesbrough, a club that narrowly missed out on Premier League promotion last season, offers Vitek a promising opportunity to advance his career and secure a first-team position.