Baleba's £65m move seals Manchester United's £148m midfield rebuild under Carrick

Manchester United have completed the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton for an initial £65m, with a further £5m available in add-ons, making the 22-year-old the third and most expensive piece of manager Michael Carrick’s £148m midfield rebuild this summer.

The Cameroon international has signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford, joining Andrey Santos — a £48m arrival from Chelsea — and Youri Tielemans, who cost £35m from Aston Villa, as Carrick reshapes the engine room of his squad ahead of the new season.

Baleba said the move represented a lifelong ambition. “It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams,” he said. “Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour.”

The midfielder was particularly enthusiastic about working under Carrick, himself a decorated former central midfielder. “I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level,” Baleba added.

United’s interest in Baleba dates back to last summer, when he caught the club’s attention with a strong 2024-25 campaign at Brighton. Despite a more difficult season in the year that followed, United’s resolve to sign him did not waver.

Director of football Jason Wilcox described the signing as a statement of intent. “Carlos is an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further. He brings a unique combination of qualities that will really complement our squad,” Wilcox said. “Carlos’ determination to join Manchester United and his confidence that we will achieve our shared ambitions mean that he is the perfect signing as we continue to build a dynamic and entertaining team ready to compete across multiple competitions.”

The triple midfield investment underlines the scale of the rebuild Carrick is overseeing at Old Trafford, with United committing significant resources to a department widely seen as a weakness in recent seasons.