Manchester United defender Will Fish is joining Cardiff City on a permanent transfer.

The Manchester Evening News revealed last month that Fish was attracting interest from Championship clubs and he’s set to complete a permanent move to Cardiff this week.

There was interest from various second-tier clubs in signing Fish on loan and on permanent deals, but Cardiff have admired him for some time and have struck a deal with United.

It’s understood Fish was desperate to play first-team football at a competitive level after his successful loan spell with Hibernian last term, which saw him make 45 appearances.

Fish was a regular starter in Scotland and wants a prominent squad role at this stage of his career, although the move is bittersweet for the 21-year-old as he’s leaving his boyhood club.

United insiders considered Fish’s temporary spell with Hibernian as one of the most successful loans they had arranged and he is departing with the best wishes of staff.

The youngster always hoped for a permanent transfer away from United this summer, but he was brought on the pre-season tour of the USA and picked up an injury against Liverpool.

Fish was stretchered off in the defeat to Liverpool in South Carolina, but the injury wasn’t as bad as initially feared, which has allowed him to recover and agree a move to Cardiff.

United have signed Leny Yoro for €62m plus €8m in add-ons and Matthijs de Ligt for €45m with a potential further €5m this summer and were happy to sell Fish on a permanent transfer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave Fish his United senior debut when he was just 17 years old against Wolves at Molineux Stadium on the final day of the 2020/21 Premier League season.

Fish is a local lad, born in Denton, and has been on United’s books since he joined the academy at seven. His contract with United expired in 2025 and the club had the option of another year.