Manchester United have agreed a £70m deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.
The deal is worth £65m guaranteed, plus £5m in add-ons, and Brighton have also inserted a sell-on clause.
Baleba is expected to sign a five-year-contract with Manchester United and will undergo his medical in the next 24 hours.
Sky Sports News has been reporting on United’s interest in Baleba since last autumn and broke the news that they had enquired about signing him during the January transfer window.
He remained one of United’s top targets this summer and will become their third addition in midfield after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
One source has told Sky Sports News when United looked to pursue Baleba last summer – they were quoted an initial price higher than the fee Moises Caicedo cost when he joined Chelsea in 2023, which was £100m, plus £15m in performance-related add-ons.
Despite Baleba’s undoubted dip in form for Brighton last season, officials at United are understood to be happy with the deal 12 months on as they have had a long-standing interest in the player.
When will Baleba make United debut?
Baleba is recovering from an ankle ligament injury he picked up during pre-season and Sky Sports News understands he is due to be fit around the middle of September.
Manchester United face Manchester City on September 13 and Fulham on September 20, followed by the three-week international break which will allow Baleba ample time to acclimatise to life at Old Trafford.
Is Baleba a major gamble or a game-changer for Man Utd?
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Sky Sports’ William Bitibiri explains exactly what Baleba might bring to Manchester United’s midfield
Analysis by Sky Sports’ William Bitibiri:
A year ago, Baleba appeared to have the world at his feet.
A breakout season at Brighton had established the then-21-year-old as one of the Premier League’s most coveted young midfielders, with a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs seemingly inevitable. Manchester United were among those interested, having identified Baleba as a potential transformative presence in midfield.
But Brighton’s reported £100m-plus valuation proved a stumbling block. The move never materialised and Baleba stayed at the Amex.
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Take a look at Baleba’s Premier League best bits
His form subsequently dipped dramatically. His numbers fell and, at times, he looked a shadow of the midfielder who had generated so much excitement the previous season.
That makes this a gamble for United. But, stylistically, there are few midfielders better suited to what they need.
Baleba was among the league’s leading defensive midfielders during the 2024/25 season – can he revive that form?
United require greater authority in the middle of the pitch and, crucially, someone capable of winning the ball back in deeper areas. Baleba brings exactly that. His athleticism, aggression and ability to carry the ball through midfield would add a level of dynamism and steel that is currently missing.
Santos and Tielemans have been astute additions, but Baleba offers something different: specialist defensive power coupled with the athleticism to drive United up the pitch.
His age is another major factor. Baleba is still only 22 and, despite his inconsistent season, there remains a belief around him that he can develop into one of the world’s best midfielders.
That ambition is reflected in his influences. Baleba has spoken of his admiration for Paul Pogba, Yaya Toure and Andres Iniesta, while Neymar and Ronaldinho were among his favourite players to watch. There is a desire for self-expression in his game that goes beyond the physical qualities that made so highly rated.
There is risk attached to signing him. United would be betting on the player Baleba can become rather than simply the one he has been over the past 12 months.
But if United want to find a midfielder capable of growing into one of the best in his position, this is exactly the sort of gamble they should be willing to take.
