The following season, his Premiership record total of 34 goals won him the European 'Golden Boot' and the 1994 PFA Young Player of the Year award. Then, in January 1995 Alex Ferguson stunned English football by taking Cole to Old Trafford in a £7 million deal (that included winger Keith Gillespie). The transfer caused uproar on a furious Tyneside as fans could'nt believe their idol had been sold to a bitter rival.

In his first season with the Reds, Cole scored twelve goals in seventeen games - a good return for any forward although five of them came famously in United's 9-0 defeat of Ipswich Town. The team and Cole finished empty handed that year but the following season he won both championship and FA Cup winners' medals as mighty United completed the Double for the second time by beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final.

Cole started the 1997-96 season with pneumonia, then broke both legs in a reserve team game in September. He never really got going that year but the 1997-98 campaign proved to be one of Cole's best seasons. He finished as United's top scorer with 25 goals but sadly with no medals to show for it as Arsenal took the honours.

1999-2000 was the season Andy Cole scored some of the most spectacular goals of his career. The bicycle kick at home to Leicester has to be seen to be believed as words cannot do it justice, such was the athleticism and skill of this 20 yard effort that it left even Old Trafford momentarily stunned. There was 4 magnificent goals in the same game against old club Newcastle. Then there was a superb mid-air volley from close range against Watford, an acrobatic overhead kick against Marseille and not forgetting the turn and delicate floating lob against Coventry City. A season total of 22 goals and to top all that he scored the vital winner that sunk Leeds and put United on course for the Championship.

In 2000-2001 the his season was disrupted by a troublesome ankle injury which limited his appearances but still he scored vital goals for United away to Chelsea and Sunderland. Cole now seemed to play better with the rejuvenated Teddy Sheringham as strike partner than Dwight Yorke. Andy's highlight was the hat-trick he scored against Anderlecht, which saw him overtake Denis Law as United's all-time top scorer in the European Cup (14) and he currently still holds the record with 19 goals. He also finally established himself as a regular England international in Sven Goran Erikssons's team, scoring his first goal against Albania in March.

The arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy spelt the end for Cole at United. The £19 million Dutchman was brilliant from August 2001 onwards and coupled with a change in tactics by the manager it meant Cole was no longer a first choice in the starting eleven. Desperate for first team action and anxious that being on the bench would lose him a place in England's 2002 World Cup squad, Cole left Manchester United for Blackburn Rovers on 29 December 2001 for £7.5 million.