Baleba completes £70m Man Utd move from Brighton

What the report says

Manchester United have completed the signing of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a deal worth £70m, according to BBC Sport Football. The fee is understood to be made up of an initial £65m plus up to £5m in add-ons, and Brighton have also secured a sell-on clause. Baleba, 22, has agreed a five-year contract at Old Trafford with an option for a further year.

BBC Sport reported that United moved for Baleba after deciding to add more strength to their midfield, following summer arrivals elsewhere in the squad. The transfer follows United’s opening-day defeat at Hull City and comes after they had previously tried to sign Baleba last year, but were deterred by Brighton’s much higher valuation at the time. Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and made 112 appearances for the club, including 31 Premier League outings last season.

The move takes United’s reported summer spending to £153m as they prepare for a Champions League return. The BBC’s analysis said Baleba is valued for his ball-winning, athleticism and ability to carry possession forward, which could help address a lack of physicality in midfield. He is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season, so an immediate impact may depend on his fitness. In broader context, the transfer reflects United’s continued push to reshape their midfield under Michael Carrick.