Manchester United have agreed a £70m deal to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion, with the 22-year-old midfielder set to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours. Having already agreed personal terms on a five-year contract, the Cameroon international will become the club’s third midfield recruitment of the summer window. He follows Youri Tielemans, who arrived for £35m from Aston Villa, and Andrey Santos, a £48m acquisition from Chelsea. United had previously agreed a deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, but they backed out following concerns surrounding the Brazil international’s knee.
The move for Baleba represents the culmination of a long-standing pursuit. United enquired about the player during the January transfer window and tracked him extensively last summer when Brighton valued him at £100m. Since joining Brighton from Lille in 2023, Baleba has made 92 Premier League appearances. He featured 35 times last season despite missing matches due to his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations during an uneven campaign. Despite his recent dip in form and a current ankle injury, club officials didn’t waver in their conviction. Operating primarily as a No 6, he’s expected to inject dynamism into the engine room while competing directly with Santos for a starting berth.
United aren’t stopping their transfer activity with Baleba. The club is actively seeking a new left-back to provide direct competition for Luke Shaw, while also strongly considering Roma’s Manu Kone to further bolster the central ranks. United have tentatively explored a move for the France international, who impressed at this summer’s World Cup, and they currently lead the race for his signature despite competing interest from across Europe.
With United set to open their Premier League campaign with an away game against Hull City on Saturday lunchtime, securing Baleba brings clarity to the squad’s central spine. If negotiations for Kone or left-back cover progress further before the deadline, United will head into their season opener with a thoroughly revamped lineup ready for the challenges ahead.
