United beat off competition from Liverpool, Paris St Germain and Tottenham by agreeing a £25m deal with PSV Eindhoven for the 21-year-old wide striker.
And it will be the first of a number of signings Van Gaal has lined up to strengthen United for a Premier League title challenge next season and their anticipated return to the Champions League.
He has been given a huge transfer war chest and is also expected to move for Borussia Dortmund pair Ilkay Gundogan and Mats Hummels, a holding midfielder and a centre-back as well as Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne.
United will be first in the queue to bring Gareth Bale back to the Premier League if Real Madrid and the player decide on a parting of the ways, and are keeping tabs on unsettled Paris St Germain striker Edinson Cavani.
They can afford to spend big thanks to their new £75m-a-year sponorship deal with Adidas kicking in from August, an £80m jackpot if they finish in the top four of the Premier League, and at least £40m guaranteed from a return to the Champions League.
Depay is the latest in a long line of Dutch players to sign for United going back as far as Arnold Muhren in the early 1980s, and including Raymond Van Der Gouw, Jaap Stam, Jordi Cruyff, Ruud Van Nistelroooy – who has given Depay tips – Alex Buttner plus current stars Van Persie and Blind.
Credit: Richard Tanner/Express Sport
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