Manchester United agree £70m deal for Brighton's Carlos Baleba
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign midfielder Carlos Baleba for a fee that could rise to £70m. The deal, which includes an initial £65m plus £5m in add-ons and a sell-on clause, was confirmed after a breakthrough in negotiations on Friday evening, according to multiple reports.
Baleba, a 22-year-old Cameroon international, is now free to complete his medical with the Old Trafford club this weekend. The transfer is expected to be officially announced soon, with the player set to sign a five-year contract.
Transfer details and context
The agreement comes after United made an initial offer of £60m plus £5m in add-ons, which was rejected by Brighton. The final fee represents a significant reduction from the £100m-plus valuation Brighton placed on Baleba last summer, when United first showed interest.
According to several sources, the reduced price reflects a dip in Baleba's form last season. He made 23 league starts and eight substitute appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, compared with 31 starts and three substitute appearances the previous season. His manager, Fabian Hurzeler, reportedly conceded that transfer speculation affected his performances.
United's interest in Baleba dates back more than a year, and the midfielder has been a long-term target. The club's eagerness to strengthen their midfield follows the departure of Casemiro, whose contract expired in July, and an injury to Manuel Ugarte, who is expected to be sidelined for months after knee surgery.
Impact on United's squad
Baleba's arrival is expected to add athleticism and energy to United's midfield, which already includes new signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. The deal will take United's summer spending to approximately £153m, according to reports.
The Cameroon international is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during Brighton's pre-season training camp in Austria. He is expected to be out for the first few weeks of the season, with a potential debut around mid-September.
Reactions and analysis
Former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino, speaking on talkSPORT, praised Baleba's ability to cover ground and press opponents, comparing his potential impact to United teams under Sir Alex Ferguson. Cascarino also criticised United's performance in their opening-day 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hull City, saying the team looked "awful" and lacked fight.
Some commentators have questioned why the fee has dropped, pointing to Baleba's regression last season. The deal has been described as a test of United's data-driven recruitment approach, with director of data Michael Sansoni, director of football Jason Wilcox, and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell all involved.
Broader transfer context
The Times reported that United also considered a move for Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly but pulled out due to the asking price. Meanwhile, reports in Italy suggest that United's pursuit of Baleba could end their interest in Roma midfielder Manu Kone, which would be a boost for the Italian club.
Brighton have also been active in the transfer market, with reports linking several of their players with moves away, including Yankuba Minteh, who is a target for Liverpool.