Manchester United confirm Carlos Baleba signing

Manchester United have completed the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion, confirming the deal on Tuesday as part of a significant summer overhaul of midfield.

United will pay a fee of £65 million plus a further £5 million in possible add-ons for the 22-year-old Cameroon international, who has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year.

The move ends more than a year of interest from Old Trafford, with sources indicating United had been quoted a price in excess of £100 million for the midfielder last summer before talks stalled over Brighton’s valuation.

Baleba arrives as one of the Premier League’s most sought-after young defensive midfielders, having made 92 league appearances for Brighton since joining from Lille three years ago.

He joins a rebuilt United engine room that already features close-season arrivals Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea, with the club’s midfield having been reshaped following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury.

Speaking after the move was finalised, Baleba described the switch as a boyhood dream fulfilled, saying it was an honour to represent United and that he was eager to work under Michael Carrick’s guidance to help take his game to the next level.

United’s director of football set the tone for the club’s ambitions in confirming the deal, framing Baleba as a player of genuine elite quality with room to grow further, and someone who adds real balance to the squad.

Wilcox added that the club were pleased to strengthen their midfield with another senior international with a proven Premier League pedigree.

The transfer represents United’s third significant midfield addition of the window and signals a clear intent from the Old Trafford hierarchy to build a younger, more dynamic core ahead of the season, with Baleba expected to compete immediately for a starting role alongside Bruno Fernandes and United’s other new arrivals.