Manchester United agree £50m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos

Manchester United have agreed a £50 million deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, with manager Michael Carrick set to confirm his first official signing at Old Trafford. The package comprises £48m up front and a further £2m in add-ons, with personal terms already finalised.

Talks between the two clubs advanced rapidly over the last 48 hours, and Santos has now been granted permission to travel to Manchester to undergo a medical ahead of completing the permanent transfer. Chelsea have also secured a 10 per cent sell-on clause as part of the agreement, ensuring they retain a financial stake in any future sale of the player.

The 22-year-old was the first signing of Todd Boehly’s tenure at Stamford Bridge and is expected to fill the void left by Casemiro, whose contract at United expired on 30 June. Santos made 42 appearances for Chelsea last season — his first full campaign in England — after previous loan spells at Nottingham Forest and RC Strasbourg produced mixed results. He is expected to partner Ederson in central midfield.

Santos was named in Carlo Ancelotti’s initial 55-man Brazil squad for the World Cup in June but was cut when the list was reduced to 26 players. Ederson, his prospective United midfield partner, was called up as an emergency replacement following an injury to Wesley in the days before the tournament.

Having been able to rest since missing out on the World Cup, Santos arrives at Old Trafford in good physical condition ahead of pre-season. United are scheduled to play friendly fixtures in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Ireland, and Carrick is understood to be pushing to complete further signings before those games begin.