DC United acquire Christian Benteke

United officials declined to comment. The opening match of the Premier League football takes place from Crystal Palace on Friday against London rivals Arsenal.

Benteke, 31, is United’s biggest prize in a summer flash to revamp the last-place roster under New coach Wayne Rooney. Although his salary has not been revealed, he will become the highest-paid player in the club’s history, a person familiar with the terms said. It will surpass Rooney’s $3.5 million deal in 2019.

Wayne Rooney is a superstar. Most importantly, he wants to train.

Benteke will fill United’s third and final position for the designated players of choice. Since Benteke was under contract with Crystal Palace until June 2023, United are also supposed to pay a transfer fee.

He will need a work visa before he can make his debut with United, a process that usually takes at least two weeks.

Since moving to England in 2012, Benteke has played for Aston Villa and Liverpool, and has played in the past six seasons for Crystal Palace. His best season with Palace was 2016-2017, when he scored 15 league goals.

He scored 10 in 2020-21 but only four in 11 matches (25 matches) last season. The four came last fall.

With the Belgian national team, Benteke scored 18 goals in 45 matches.

Benteke is United’s latest acquisition during the summer transfer window and trade window, joining the striker Miguel Perry (Columbus Crew), goalkeeper David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake), winger Martin Rodriguez (Altay, Turkey), attacking midfielder Raphael Morrison (Derby County, England) and defensive midfielder Victor Palson (Schalke, Germany).

Ochoa and Palsson haven’t made their debut yet.

This is an evolving story and will be updated.