Manchester United have completed the signing of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a deal worth up to £70m.
The 22-year-old has moved to Old Trafford for an initial fee of £65m, with a further £5m available in add-ons.
Baleba has agreed a five-year contract with Manchester United, with the option of extending the deal by another year.
The midfielder is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during pre-season. Sky Sports News understands he could return to action by the middle of September, meaning he may be available around the time Manchester United face Manchester City on 13 September.
His move brings to an end a transfer pursuit which has lasted almost 12 months. Manchester United’s interest in Baleba was first reported by Sky Sports News last autumn, before the club made an enquiry about signing him during the January transfer window.
Baleba remained one of United’s leading targets during the summer and becomes the club’s third midfield addition in this transfer window, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
The agreement with Brighton completes a deal for a player Manchester United have tracked for an extended period, although his immediate involvement will depend on his recovery from the ankle problem.
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and went on to make 112 appearances for the club. He featured 35 times during the previous season, but missed a period of the campaign while representing Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
His arrival strengthens Manchester United’s midfield options as the club continues to reshape its squad. The transfer also concludes negotiations which began with the club’s enquiry in January and continued through the summer.
Baleba’s move to Manchester United comes after three years at Brighton, where he established himself as a regular first-team player following his transfer from Lille. Despite his injury, the club expect him to be back in contention by mid-September, according to Sky Sports News.
Manchester United’s next meeting with Manchester City is scheduled for 13 September, although Baleba’s availability for that fixture remains dependent on the progress of his rehabilitation.
