MU to sign Carlos Baleba for £65 million

Manchester United are nearing an agreement to acquire Carlos Baleba from Brighton for a total fee of £65 million, as reported by The Athletic.

Manchester United are on the verge of completing the Carlos Baleba transfer after positive developments in talks with Brighton & Hove Albion.

According to the latest information from the reputable newspaper The Athletic, United have submitted an offer of around £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons, bringing the total value to £65 million. This bid is still below Brighton's initial expectations, but the parties are holding constructive discussions and are believed to be close to reaching an agreement. If completed, Baleba will sign a five-year contract with United, running until 2031.

United have been chasing Baleba for a long time. The Manchester club were particularly impressed by the Cameroon midfielder's performances in his first two Premier League seasons and have made him a priority target for their midfield overhaul.

The deal once seemed unlikely, as Brighton had valued Baleba at around £100 million during the 2025 summer transfer window. At that time, United were reportedly willing to spend about £75 million but could not persuade Brighton to sell.

However, the situation has changed significantly after a less consistent season for Baleba. The 22-year-old's form dipped in the second half of the previous campaign. Physical issues and the distraction of United's interest prevented him from maintaining his usual stability. As a result, Baleba's price has dropped considerably. Now, United have a great opportunity to sign a player who was once priced at over £100 million by Brighton for a much smaller investment.

Why are United still determined to sign Baleba?

Even though Baleba has just had a season that was not particularly outstanding, United still highly rate the potential of the midfielder born in 2004.

Baleba's biggest strengths lie in his spatial awareness, tackling, ball recovery, and high work rate. Advanced statistics also show that he ranks among the Premier League's best midfielders in winning duels.

Baleba was once in the top 10 among Premier League midfielders for interceptions per opponent possession, won duels, and won defensive duels. On a broader scale, he is also in the top 15% of midfielders in Europe's top five leagues for duel win rate and ball recoveries per 90 minutes. These are exactly the qualities United are looking for.

In manager Michael Carrick's plans, Baleba can play the role of an energetic midfielder, supporting pressing, ball recovery, and creating a foundation for creative players like Bruno Fernandes to have more space. Notably, Baleba's left-footedness also provides another option for United. He can even play as a left-back when needed.

The Baleba deal is part of United's major midfield restructuring. The Old Trafford club have already parted ways with Casemiro, while Manuel Ugarte is sidelined for a long period due to a knee injury sustained while on duty with Uruguay at the World Cup.

This summer, United have quickly added Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million and Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50 million. Baleba will therefore be the third piece in United's midfield revolution.