Manchester United have agreed to buy Andy Goram from Motherwell.
United tried to take him on loan, but with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, Motherwell were only prepared to sell.
A fee of £100,000 has been agreed.
The deal should help ease United's goalkeeping crisis with Fabien Barthez and Raimond van der Gouw both injured.
Motherwell Director of Football, Pat Nevin, admits he was taken by surprise by the approach from Sir Alex Ferguson.