Manchester United complete signing of Carlos Baleba - what will he bring?
Manchester United's summer transfer window had shown signs of slowing down after the early transfers of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but the Red Devils have completed the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton. It's understood that United will pay the Seagulls an initial €76 million, plus a potential €5.8m in add-ons.
Midfield has been an area of focus for United in the transfer market this summer after losing Casemiro, and with Champions League football back on the horizon for Michael Carrick's team. Baleba won't immediately be available for United due to injury but he's expressed his delight at moving to Old Trafford. “It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams," he told the United website." 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.
Baleba has a current market value of €55m after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign. He joins Tielemans, Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes as first-team options in the engine room for Man United. Manuel Ugarte is currently out with a knee injury, while Mason Mount has also missed the final two games of pre-season. Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023 for €27m and has played 112 times for the south-coast club.
He has become one of the latest players that Brighton have bought young and immensely developed, and will represent yet more profit made by the club. For years, Man United have struggled to have the required energy in midfield to compete with the best in the league, and Baleba at his best can control a midfield with the ball and set the tone and tempo without it. If the deal goes through, it will mean each of the three most expensive Cameroonian players ever will have been signed by Man United, after Bryan Mbeumo (€75m) and André Onana (€50.2m).
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- Date of birth/Age:
- 03/01/2004 (22)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Manchester United
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2031
- Position:
- Defensive Midfield
- Market Value:
- €55.00m
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 28/07/1981 (45)
-
Nat.:
- Current club:
- Manchester United
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Contract until:
- 30/06/2028
- In charge since:
- May 22, 2026
- Total Market Value:
- €924.30m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 10.
- Manager:
- Michael Carrick
- Squad size:
- 30
- Latest transfer:
- Carlos Baleba
- Total Market Value:
- €589.90m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 8.
- Manager:
- Fabian Hürzeler
- Squad size:
- 32
- Latest transfer:
- Matías Orozco
