Manchester United signs Carlos Baleba from Brighton for £70M

Manchester United have completed the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £70 million, adding the 22-year-old Cameroon international to what has been an aggressive midfield rebuild this summer.

The transfer fee breaks down to £65 million in guaranteed payments plus £5 million in potential add-ons. Brighton also secured a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.

A year in the making

Baleba had reportedly been pushing for a move to Old Trafford since August 2025, meaning the player spent roughly a full year waiting for this transfer to materialize.

The agreement was finalized around August 21, 2026, with Baleba expected to complete his medical examination and finalize personal terms ahead of an official announcement.

United’s midfield overhaul takes shape

Baleba becomes the third midfield signing Manchester United have made this summer window, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

For Brighton, selling Baleba continues a well-established pattern. The south coast club has become one of the Premier League’s most efficient talent pipelines, developing players and selling them at significant profit. Moises Caicedo’s move to Chelsea previously set the template, and Baleba’s £70 million departure follows a similar trajectory.

The sell-on clause Brighton negotiated means that if United eventually move Baleba on, Brighton will receive a percentage of any future fee.

What Baleba brings to Old Trafford

At 22, Baleba arrived at Brighton from Lille in 2023 and quickly established himself as a first-team regular in the Premier League.