Real Valladolid keeper Ricardo Lopez has agreed to join Manchester United in a deal believed to be worth £1.5 million.

The 30-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Old Trafford club and is eleigible to make his debut in tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Sunderland.

Ricardo, who was understudy to Iker Casillas for Spain at the recent World Cup finals, will be second choice keeper to Fabiann Barthez, although with the Frenchman still out with a troublesome hip injury, the Spaniard has a chance to stake a claim for the number one spot.

‘He is second choice in the Spanish national squad and a lot of people believe if he was with a bigger team he would be in the side,’ said the United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

‘With that level of ability he was an easy choice.’