Manchester United Complete Signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton in Deal Worth Up to £70m
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion in a transfer worth an initial £65 million, rising to £70 million with add-ons. The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year, running until 2031.
Baleba becomes the third midfielder to join United this summer, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. The deal takes the club’s midfield spending to around £148–153 million as they rebuild under manager Michael Carrick ahead of a return to the Champions League.
Brighton have secured a sell-on clause as part of the agreement. United first pursued Baleba last summer but walked away when the Seagulls’ valuation exceeded £100 million. Interest remained, and a more modest fee was agreed this window after the player’s relatively quieter 2025-26 campaign.
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and went on to make 112 appearances for the club, establishing himself as a dynamic, energetic presence in midfield. He is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during pre-season and is expected to be sidelined initially, with a possible return around mid-September.
In a statement on the club’s website, Baleba said: “It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams. Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour.
“I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level. The ambition of everyone at the club is extremely clear, the future is hugely exciting, and I am determined to play my part in delivering the success that we are capable of together.”
Director of football Jason Wilcox welcomed the addition, describing Baleba as “an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further” who brings “a unique combination of qualities that will really complement our squad.”
The signing strengthens competition in a midfield that also includes Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and others, while providing physicality, ball-winning ability and progressive qualities that Carrick’s side have sought. United’s summer business continues to reshape the squad position by position, with Baleba representing both immediate reinforcement and long-term investment.
Baleba will now begin his recovery and integration at Carrington as the Red Devils look to build momentum in the new season.
