Manchester United Complete £70m Signing Of Carlos Baleba From Brighton
Manchester United have ended a near year-long chase by signing Cameroon international Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a deal worth up to £70m, though the midfielder will not be available immediately after an ankle problem picked up in pre-season.
United close a year-long pursuit
Manchester United have finalised their move for Carlos Baleba, signing the 22-year-old Cameroon midfielder from Brighton. The contract runs for five years, with United holding the option to extend it by a further season, in a package that could rise to £70m in total: £65m guaranteed, with a further £5m payable in add-ons.
United's interest in Baleba first became public last autumn, and their enquiry about a possible deal during the January transfer window was also reported at the time. A year ago Baleba looked close to a move to one of Europe's elite clubs after a breakout campaign at Brighton, but the Seagulls' reported valuation of more than £100m proved too high and a transfer never happened. His form dipped over the following season before United returned this summer with an agreed, lower fee.
Injury delays his debut
Baleba will not be involved straight away. An ankle problem sustained during pre-season means he is not expected to be fit again until around mid-September, which puts United's trip to face Manchester City on September 13 in doubt for him.
He becomes United's third midfield addition of the summer, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, and is expected to add defensive steel in front of the back four under manager Michael Carrick.
Baleba: 'An incredible feeling'
"It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams," Baleba said after completing his move, adding that playing at Old Trafford as a United player would be a special honour.
Baleba also posted a farewell message to Brighton fans on social media, thanking the club's staff and team-mates and reflecting on how it felt to hear his name announced at the Amex. He arrived at Brighton from Lille back in 2023, going on to make 112 appearances for the club, and missed part of last season while away with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
SOURCES: Sky Sports. August 2026. Photo: Manchester United