Dundee United officially sign former Manchester United midfielder

Dundee United have officially completed the signing of a former Manchester United midfielder, adding another Old Trafford connection to Scottish football this week.

Manchester United themselves completely reshaped the middle of the pitch over the summer, with Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba all arriving to give Michael Carrick considerably more depth and quality.

There has also been movement in the opposite direction, with younger midfielders heading elsewhere in search of regular senior football.

Jack Moorhouse recently joined Dundee FC on loan for the season, meaning two clubs from the same city have now brought in midfielders with Manchester United connections within days of each other.

The relationship between Dundee FC and Dundee United is anything but friendly, though.

They are fierce city rivals in the Dundee derby, with their stadiums, Dens Park and Tannadice, separated by only a short walk.

Now it is United who have made their move for a player once tipped for a bright future at Old Trafford.

Former Manchester United midfielder completes Dundee United move

Dundee United have announced on their official website that Zidane Iqbal has joined permanently from FC Utrecht.

The 23-year-old has signed a two-year contract, with the Scottish club holding an option for a further season.

Iqbal joined Manchester United at the age of nine and worked his way through Carrington before signing professional terms in 2021.

His standout moment arrived later that year when he came off the bench against Young Boys in the Champions League, becoming the first British South Asian to feature in the competition.

Despite earning that breakthrough, a genuine route into United’s senior midfield never really opened up.

Rather than spend his early twenties waiting for opportunities, Iqbal left for Utrecht in 2023 to build experience in the Netherlands.

He has since become a senior Iraq international and featured at the 2026 World Cup, while also recently returning to Manchester for off-season training.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin believes Iqbal can operate in several midfield roles, and he will wear the number 14 shirt at Tannadice Park.