Manchester United Confirm £70m Signing of Carlos Baleba From Brighton on Five-Year Deal
Manchester United have completed the signing of Cameroon international midfielder Carlos Baleba from fellow Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, marking the club’s third midfield addition of the summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, running until 2031, with the option of a further year. United confirmed the move in an official statement on Tuesday, though the club did not disclose the financial details of the deal. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the transfer is worth up to £70 million, comprising a guaranteed fee of £65 million plus a further £5 million in potential add-ons, with Brighton also said to have inserted a sell-on clause into the agreement. The deal takes United’s overall spending on midfield reinforcements this summer past £150 million.
Baleba, who was born in Douala, Cameroon, began his professional career with French Ligue 1 side Lille before joining Brighton three years ago. He went on to make more than 90 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls, establishing himself as one of the division’s most highly rated defensive midfielders. During the 2025/26 campaign, he featured in 31 league matches, ranking among the division’s leaders for combined tackles and interceptions, as well as for second balls won, while helping Brighton secure qualification for the UEFA Conference League.
United’s long-standing interest in Baleba dates back more than a year, with the club having previously made enquiries about signing him during the January transfer window. Brighton had reportedly been holding out for a valuation in excess of £100 million at the time, a figure United were unwilling to meet, which saw the move stall before eventually being revived this summer. Baleba is currently sidelined with an ankle ligament injury sustained during pre-season, though he is expected to be available for selection around mid-September.
The signing forms part of a broader midfield overhaul at Old Trafford this summer, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, as the club looks to fill the gap left by Brazilian international Casemiro, who departed for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. Speaking after completing the move, Baleba described joining Manchester United as an incredible feeling, calling it the club of his dreams and expressing eagerness to work with manager Michael Carrick. He added that he was determined to play his part in helping the club deliver the success he believes it is capable of achieving.
United are set to face Manchester City on September 13, followed by a home fixture against Fulham the following week, before a three-week international break that should give Baleba further time to recover from injury and settle into life at the club ahead of his expected debut.
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