Manchester United announce Carlos Baleba transfer in £70m deal

The midfielder has signed a five-year contract, with the option of another year, at Old Trafford. United were interested in signing Baleba from Brighton last summer, but sources say the Seagulls used their sale of Moises Caicedo to Chelsea in a £115m deal three years ago as the starting point for preliminary talks.

Brighton have accepted a knockdown price for Baleba this summer. The 22-year-old's form dipped last season, but United chiefs are understood to be delighted with the deal they have struck 12 months after initially showing interest.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

Baleba recently suffered an ankle ligament injury. The issue is not considered serious, but he is not expected to be available to play for United immediately.

United planned to overhaul their midfield this summer and Baleba's arrival takes the spend on that department to around £155m. The Cameroon international is the club's third midfield signing of the window after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

Michael Carrick was recently asked if United's new midfield recruits could fill the void left by Casemiro following his departure, and he responded by saying: "You've got to evolve, you've got to find ways of moving forward."

United were willing to overlook Baleba's underwhelming 2025/26 campaign because they believe he can become one of the top-flight's finest midfielders, and someone who can slot into the role that Casemiro occupied.

United will look to sign a left-back before the transfer window closes for Premier League clubs on September 1.