Third Midfield Piece Falls Into Place
Manchester United have finally landed Carlos Baleba, agreeing a deal worth £65 million plus £5 million in add-ons with Brighton. The Cameroon international has authorisation to travel from the south coast, with United having already booked his medical for this weekend at Old Trafford.
Notably, this breakthrough represents a considerable shift from last summer’s stalled pursuit. Brighton had then demanded a price closer to £115 million, the same figure they received from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo back in 2023. United walked away at the time, unconvinced the fee matched Baleba’s output. A dip in form throughout the following season ultimately softened that valuation considerably.
Baleba becomes United’s third midfield addition of the summer, joining Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans in Michael Carrick’s evolving squad. Even before any add-ons, this fee already ranks as United’s most expensive purchase of the window, pushing their total summer outlay toward £148 million.
Interestingly, sources close to the club describe genuine delight at finally securing their long-standing target. United had maintained contact with Baleba’s camp since last autumn, even exploring a January move that ultimately went nowhere. That persistence, evidently, has now paid dividends.
Fitness Concerns Cloud Timing Of Arrival
Still, Baleba won’t be available immediately. He’s currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during pre-season, with reports suggesting he could be fit around mid-September. Fortunately, United’s fixture list offers some breathing room, with the international break following matches against Manchester City and Fulham providing extra time to acclimatise.
Since joining Brighton from Lille in 2023, Baleba has made 92 Premier League appearances, establishing himself as one of the division’s most physically imposing holding midfielders. His combination of athleticism and composure under pressure repeatedly drew praise, even amid last season’s inconsistent form.
Brighton, for their part, continue their pattern of significant summer departures, having also lost Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham and Danny Welbeck to Chelsea. Brighton have also inserted a sell-on clause into this agreement, according to Sky Sports, protecting their financial interests should United sell him on in future.
Readers following Manchester United’s summer midfield rebuild can find continued coverage on KCPredict as the transfer window edges toward its close.