Man United sign Baleba from Brighton for up to $105m

Manchester United has officially confirmed the arrival of Carlos Baleba from Brighton, sealing a deal valued at up to 70 million pounds. The Red Devils moved quickly on Tuesday to announce that the 22-year-old Cameroon international is now part of their squad, subject only to final registration clearance. This signing marks the third midfielder brought into the fold this summer window.

Brighton had reportedly been asking for a staggering $100m fee, yet United managed to agree on the lower figure of 70 million pounds ($95m). That sum pushes Manchester United's total spending on midfield reinforcements this period beyond 150 million pounds ($204m). The club did not officially release the exact transfer price but noted Baleba signed a contract running until 2031, with an option for one more year.

Baleba was born in Douala, Cameroon, before launching his professional journey in 2022 with French side Lille. He spent the following season at Brighton, where he made 79 starts and racked up over 100 total appearances for the Seagulls. His defensive skills shone last season as he played 31 games in the Premier League. During that time, his combined tackles and interceptions ranked sixth-highest among all midfielders in the league. He also placed fourth for progressive ball carries per 90 minutes and helped Brighton & Hove Albion qualify for the UEFA Conference League by winning second balls at a rate in the top one percent of players.

The move is part of a larger strategy to fill the void left when Casemiro departed for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Baleba joins fellow midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos at Old Trafford this summer. United had previously linked with the Cameroon international last summer and again during the January window, but finally pulled the trigger now.

"It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams," Baleba said in a statement. "Playing at Old Trafford is always special, but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour." He expressed excitement about working with Michael Carrick, noting that his experience and knowledge make him the perfect coach to help reach the highest level.