Manchester United have agreed a £70 million deal to sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with the Cameroon international set to undergo a medical ahead of completing his move to Old Trafford.
The agreement is worth an initial £65m, with a further £5m in potential add-ons, while Brighton have also secured a sell-on clause as part of the deal.
Both clubs reached a breakthrough in negotiations on Friday evening, clearing the way for the 22-year-old to complete his medical with United this weekend.
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United stepped up their pursuit of the Cameroon international after deciding to further strengthen their midfield following the arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa earlier in the transfer window.
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most highly rated young midfielders. However, he is currently sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during Brighton’s pre-season training camp in Austria.
The deal will take Manchester United’s summer spending to around £153m while representing a significant reduction from Brighton’s earlier valuation as the 2025 transfer deadline approached.
Baleba adds midfield depth for Carrick
Baleba’s arrival ends United’s search for midfield reinforcements following the departure of Casemiro after the expiry of his contract.
Manuel Ugarte had also been expected to leave this summer, but the Uruguay international suffered a serious knee injury while on World Cup duty.
With Santos, Tielemans and England international Kobbie Mainoo already available, Baleba will add further depth, athleticism and energy to Michael Carrick’s midfield options.
The Cameroon international’s desire to join United is also understood to have helped accelerate negotiations between the two clubs.
Once the transfer is completed, Baleba will become another major addition to Carrick’s squad as United look to build on their strong start to the new season, beginning with Saturday’s Premier League trip to newly promoted Hull City.
