Man Utd sign Smith

To be joining one of the best clubs in the world is fantastic and I'm looking forward to the new challenges Alan Smith Alan Smith's career statistics

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of England striker Alan Smith from Leeds in a deal worth £7m.

Smith passed a medical on Wednesday and then put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old, a life-long Leeds fan, would have been due a cut of his old club's fee because he never asked for a transfer, but he has waived this.

Manchester United defender Danny Pugh, 21, will be moving in the opposite direction as part of the deal.

Leeds will receive £6m immediately with the other £1m reflected in the club's savings after Smith waived his fee, and "other associated considerations".

The Yorkshire club also pointed out they have incurred no agents' fees.

Exciting times ahead - with Alan Smith and others joining we are ready to take our title back! From Geoffrey Tsaras Have your say on 606

Smith claimed he was joining one of the world's biggest clubs.

"I grew up at Leeds and spent some wonderful years there, and I would like to thank everyone at the club," he said.

"Now I feel it's the right time to move on and there could be no better club than Manchester United.

"To be joining one of the best clubs in the world is fantastic and I'm looking forward to the new challenges."

His desire to move to Old Trafford, which has angered Leeds supporters, endeared him to his new boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I have never been more impressed with a young player, his desire to play for Manchester United is fantastic," Ferguson said.

I have never been more impressed with a young player Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

"Certain young people come along with a special determination, and after speaking to him I expect that from Alan Smith. That desire will take him a long way."

Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner said: "We are beginning a major programme of rebuilding and restructuring at Leeds and we both believe his immediate future in football lies away from Elland Road.

"We know the feelings he has for our club and supporters and what it means to him to leave the number 17 shirt behind. We thank him for his service to Leeds and wish him well in his future career."

Smith, born in Leeds, signed his first professional contract at Elland Road in 1998 and made his first-team debut that same year, scoring with his first touch against Liverpool.

He signed an improved five-year contract in 1999 and agreed another one in 2001, but after Leeds' relegation he wanted to leave.

JOINED MAN UTD FROM LEEDS 2004: Alan Smith 2002: Rio Ferdinand 1992: Eric Cantona 1978: Joe Jordan 1978: Gordon McQueen

He will now compete with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha for a place in Ferguson's team - assuming the Dutchman is not sold to Real Madrid this summer.

Smith can also operate in midfield, but it is understood Ferguson sees him mainly as a striker, which could signal the end of the road at Old Trafford for Diego Forlan and even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Left-back Pugh has made seven senior appearances in his two seasons at Old Trafford.

He played the full 90 minutes of United's 2-0 Carling Cup fourth-round defeat at West Brom last season, and was an 89th minute sub in the FA Cup fourth-round win at Northampton.