Midfielder leaves United for Leicester City

Danny Drinkwater has signed for Championship promotion hopefuls Leicester City for an undisclosed fee. The midfielder, who has impressed on loan at Barnsley earlier in the season, has penned a contract with the Foxes until June 2015.

Drinkwater never made a competitive appearance for United, but impressed during a series of loan spells.

The 21-year-old joined Barnsley on loan at the start of the season, and saw the spell extended at the turn of the year following a series of impressive performances.

However, that loan move has now been cut short after Leicester approached United with an offer. That has been accepted, and the player has agreed terms with the Foxes.

The player could make his Leicester City debut on Monday as the promotion challengers, currently sitting 8th in the table, take on high-flyers Southampton.

Drinkwater is a talented midfielder, and the lack of first-team opportunities he has had at United is testimony to the struggle so many players face in breaking through the ranks at the club.

He was once an unused substitute against Hull, and scored the winning goal in the 2008 Lancashire Senior Cup final.

The Manchester-born man has previously enjoyed loan spells at Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City and Watford.