Manchester United agree initial £65m deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba
Manchester United have agreed an initial £65m deal to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba and the 22-year-old is due to have a medical in Manchester this weekend, the club announced on 21 August 2026.
Baleba, who plays as a No 6 for Brighton, would become the third midfield recruit of the summer to join Michael Carrick’s squad, following Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. Tielemans operates as a No 8 while Santos is also described as a holding player.
Even before potential add-ons, the agreed initial fee of £65m would make Baleba United’s most expensive signing of the summer; Tielemans cost £35m and Santos an initial £48m with a possible £2m of extras. Baleba’s deal includes up to £5m in add-ons and would push United’s total spending in the window to £148m.
Privately, the club are reported to be pleased with securing the player after failing to land the Cameroon star last summer. Brighton had been hoping for a figure closer to the £115m they received for Moisés Caicedo when he moved to Chelsea in 2023, but the club see the Baleba deal as providing value on and off the pitch.
Speaking before the agreement was struck, Carrick outlined the importance of a functioning midfield and said: “I think it gives you the foundation of the team, you know. I think the foundation of the team is important to be consistent, to be consistent through one game from start to finish, to be consistent over a period of time.
“You need a solid foundation through the middle of the team and trying and putting it together and getting that balance. But certainly, I think if you look at all the top teams over the years, all the great teams over the years, the spine of the team is really strong, you know.
“So we’re conscious of that, and I think we’ve got a good spine of the team right now. We can keep improving as we go in different ways and coaching and helping the boys and developing them, and I think we’re in a good place.”
The immediate next step is the 22-year-old’s medical in Manchester this weekend; if that is passed the transfer would be completed on the agreed initial £65m fee with up to £5m in further payments.