adminmedical in Manchester yesterday ahead of a £15m move from Championship club Crystal Palace.
The 20-year-old forward has agreed a five-and-a-half year deal but is being loaned back to Palace until the summer.
United will pay £10m up front, with the fee potentially rising to £15m based on Zaha’s appearances and success.
“We like to sign young players with potential,” said Ferguson at a news conference yesterday.
“We can develop players well as we have proved many times so hopefully the boy will enjoy it coming here.
“He’s a winger, only a young lad, 20-years-of-age so we will see.”
Zaha said: “I am delighted to be joining Manchester United and ending the recent speculation.
“I would like to thank the owners at Palace for making the move possible, however my focus for the next five months will be solely at Crystal Palace.
“I have been at Palace for more than 10 years, I will always love the club. I want to help get them get back to the Premier League, particularly for the fans who have always been so good to me.”
Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish said: “I feel this a great deal for the club and the player.
“We would like to thank Wilf for all he has done for the club and we all wish him well when he joins Manchester United in the summer.
“It was essential to Wilf and ourselves that he stayed at Palace for the remainder of this season to help the club with its main aim of promotion to the Premier League.”
Zaha, who joined Palace as a 12-year-old, is expected to win his second England cap against Brazil in February.
Both clubs have refused to comment on a proposed deal, but Ferguson has been heavily involved in the talks, having remained in England as his squad travelled to Qatar on Sunday for a short training camp.
He was named the Football League Young Player of the Year last season and attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs.
Zaha, who came through the youth academy at Selhurst Park, has scored 15 goals in 124 appearances for the Eagles since his debut against Cardiff in March 2010.
Winger Ashley Young (knee) and Jonny Evans (hamstring) have returned to training but will not be considered for today’s FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Fulham.
The tie marks the return of Dimitar Berbatov (31) to Old Trafford after the Bulgarian striker, frustrated at his lack of first-team chances under Ferguson, called time on his four-year career at United in August.
Berbatov scored 49 goals in 108 Premier League appearances for United.
“He’s their best player,” added Ferguson. “I don’t think Dimitar was a failure here. I think he did a great job here.
“The problem is I had choices and at his age it’s not easy to be part of those choices when he’s not playing.
“He wanted first-team football and we gave him the opportunity to go to Fulham. At his age it was the right thing to do.
“He’s done pretty well there. The problem here was the way we wanted to play, the selections we had. The hardest thing was when we had Tevez here also.”
Berbatov’s relaxed style on the pitch attracted criticism from some fans, but Ferguson said: “Some people like to see players run through brick walls all the time. Dimitar is not that type of player. But he’s a very talented boy who had a decent goalscoring record here.”
Ferguson has been asked by the Football Association to explain his comments made about a match official during United’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham last Sunday.
The Manchester United boss accused assistant referee Simon Beck of failing to give Wayne Rooney a “clear” penalty.
“I’ve put in my letter and we’ll see what happens,” said Ferguson, who labelled those who criticised the performance of keeper David De Gea at White Hart Lane as “idiots”.
Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini insists Mario Balotelli will not leave Manchester City for AC Milan.
The striker has been linked with a move back to Italy during the January transfer window.
But City boss Mancini said: “It is not true, Mario stays here. We didn’t have any requests about Mario or other players.”
Mancini has stuck to his guns on the possibility of Balotelli leaving Manchester even after a training-ground row with the player earlier this month.
Milan are interested in the forward but are unwilling to meet City’s reported £28million valuation and may even offer to take the errant star on loan.
When asked if Balotelli was part of his long-term plans, Mancini said: “Yes, Mario has another three years on his contract.”
The transfer window closes next week but Mancini cannot see much activity.
He said: “I don’t know but we don’t have enough players. We are 18 players now. We can’t sell any players.”
When asked about the possibility of players coming in, Mancini said: “I think it is difficult.”
Mancini has also been surprised by reports that City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain wants the club’s teams to play in a 4-3-3 system from next season.
The Italian said: “I don’t know. I speak with Txiki every day and he never told me this. We have the same thoughts about football.” — AFP.
Online Reporter