United’s £70m midfield gamble follows Hull’s opening‑day shock

Man United have COMPLETED a £70 million deal for Brighton’s 22‑year‑old midfielder Carlos Baleba, bolstering Michael Carrick’s new‑look midfield at Old Trafford, while Hull City’s opening‑day Premier League defeat left United fans breathing a sigh of relief after a horror show at the Hull ground.

Midfield overhaul at Old Trafford

The £70 million fee pushes United’s summer midfield outlay to £155 million after the earlier arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.

Both Tielemans and Santos were signed earlier in the window, adding depth to Carrick’s plans.

Baleba arrived after three full seasons on the south coast, having moved to Brighton from Lille.

The Cameroon international is recovering from an ankle ligament injury but is expected to be fit towards the end of next month.

Kobbie Mainoo’s role remains unclear as he joins the three new midfielders.

Mainoo entered the match on Saturday after 67 minutes, following a less‑convincing debut from Tielemans, who was even nutmegged.

Carrick, who replaced Ruben Amorim, has overseen the midfield rebuild after Casemiro departed following four years at Old Trafford in Manchester.

The former Brazil midfielder left the club having finished his United career on a high.

Hull's opening day horror

Hull City’s opening‑day Premier League loss featured first‑half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy, both scored from set‑pieces.

The goals left the Mancunians trailing and highlighted United’s earlier defensive frailties.

The report, filed by LUKE POWER on 25 August 2026, underscores the contrast between United’s midfield investment and Hull’s early disappointment, recalling that Mainoo was the only outfield player to remain unused throughout the tournament for the Three Lions.