Manchester United secure £65m Baleba deal after Brighton green light

Man Utd are set to sign 22‑year‑old midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton after the clubs agreed a £65 million fee plus £5 million in add‑ons, with a sell‑on clause, and have given him permission to travel for a medical on Saturday evening.

United's pursuit and the agreed fee

United have tracked Baleba for more than a year, and after agreeing personal terms, they secured a deal for the 22‑year‑old midfielder. Brighton gave the green light for him to travel to Manchester for a medical on Saturday.

An initial offer of £60 million plus £5 million in add‑ons was rejected by Brighton. The clubs later agreed a £65 million fee plus £5 million in add‑ons, and the agreement also contains a sell‑on clause.

Michael Carrick has repeatedly said United need new midfield arrivals after the departure of Casemiro and the long‑term injury to Manuel Ugarte. He told reporters, “I just think we’re looking to strengthen the squad,” emphasizing the club’s intent to improve the midfield.

This signing follows the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, who together cost £85 million, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow, making Baleba United’s fourth major summer acquisition. The addition of Baleba is expected to give Carrick more options in midfield.

What the move means for United and Brighton

Brighton originally set a £100 million asking price for the Cameroon international, but a quieter 2025/26 campaign reduced his market value, enabling the £65 million agreement. The club’s willingness to accept the lower fee reflects the changed circumstances.

Baleba suffered an ankle ligament injury in Brighton’s 0‑0 draw with Tromso in a Conference League qualifier on Thursday. The injury means he will have to wait before making his United debut.

ImagesCarlos shows the photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images that accompanied the announcement. The Manchester United News release featured a View and a Get link, and the caption included United(Image) alongside the image.

The deal, posted in Aug, gives United a promising midfielder to bolster a depleted midfield ahead of the Premier League opener, while Brighton receives a substantial fee after a season that saw the player’s value decline.