Carlos Baleba completes £70m Man Utd move from Brighton
Manchester United have signed 22-year-old midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton for an initial £65m plus £5m in add-ons on a five-year contract.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Manchester United sign midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton for a total fee of £70m
- The 22-year-old signs a five-year contract at Old Trafford with an option for an extra year
- Baleba brings three years of Premier League experience having made 31 league appearances last season
- The transfer takes United's summer spending up to £153m ahead of their Champions League return
Manchester United have completed the signing of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton and Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £70m. The Old Trafford club paid an initial fee of £65m, alongside a potential £5m in add-ons, while Brighton have also successfully negotiated a sell-on clause into the agreement.
United renewed their pursuit of the 22-year-old after previously attempting to sign him near transfer deadline day last year, only to be deterred by Brighton's valuation exceeding £100m. The club ultimately decided to target Baleba to further strengthen their midfield following the summer arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
Baleba has put pen to paper on a five-year contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months. Speaking about his move, he said, "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."
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Currently sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during Brighton's pre-season training camp in Austria, Baleba leaves the Seagulls after making 112 total appearances and scoring four goals since joining the club from Lille in 2023. He featured in 31 Premier League matches last term, helping his former side finish eighth and secure qualification for the Conference League.
His arrival brings United's total summer spending to £153m as the team prepares to re-enter the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign. Although United have already added Santos and Tielemans, the squad has faced scrutiny over a lack of physical presence and power in the centre of the pitch.
Carlos Baleba's arrival is expected to directly address Manchester United's ongoing need for physical dominance and defensive solidity in midfield. With standout defensive metrics from the 2024-25 season, including high rankings for duels won and ball recoveries, his athleticism and ball-winning capabilities are well-suited to complement the technical profiles of players like Tielemans and Mainoo.
Baleba's underlying defensive output, highlighted by a top speed of 34.5 km/h in the 2024-25 season and impressive progressive carrying stats, is expected to inject energy into Michael Carrick's preferred 4-2-2-2 tactical setup. His positional versatility as a defensive and central midfielder gives the club valuable tactical options heading into the new season.
Source: BBC Sport
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