Manchester United close in on £38m Ederson deal as Carrick era takes shape

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson in a deal worth up to £38million, with the Brazilian set to become Michael Carrick’s first acquisition as manager.

The 26-year-old was notably absent from Atalanta’s final Serie A match of the season against Fiorentina last weekend, a precautionary measure taken amid United’s advanced interest. A package worth up to £38m has been reported, and the move is understood to be in its final stages.

Ederson arrives with considerable pedigree from his time in Italy, having played a central role in Atalanta’s Europa League final victory in 2024, where he impressed against Bayer Leverkusen. Former England head coach Fabio Capello described him as “out of this world” last season, highlighting his running ability, physicality, technique and tactical intelligence as his four defining qualities.

His omission from Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup came as a surprise, but it works in United’s favour — Ederson will be free to join the club for pre-season preparations rather than returning late from international duty.

United chiefs are not framing the signing as a direct replacement for Casemiro, who departed this summer. Instead, Ederson is viewed as a versatile addition capable of filling multiple midfield roles. Although he has primarily operated as a defensive midfielder in Serie A, his ability to carry the ball and play progressive passes gives him the profile of a box-to-box player at the highest level.

His arrival is expected to see him leapfrog Manuel Ugarte in the squad hierarchy. The Uruguayan has been made available for transfer this summer after struggling to establish himself since joining from Paris Saint-Germain.

Carrick is still understood to be pursuing a more prominent defensive midfield signing to fill the void left by Casemiro, with Ederson seen as complementary depth and quality rather than the definitive answer to that problem position.

Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership, United have refined their transfer strategy to focus on players in the prime of their careers at relatively controlled fees. Signing a 26-year-old with proven European experience for £38m fits that model, and the club believes Ederson’s physical and technical profile will allow him to adapt quickly to the Premier League.