Manchester United sign Baleba for £70m after Brighton slash asking price by £45m

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton for £70million, completing a midfield rebuild that also includes Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. The deal represents a significant saving for United, who walked away from negotiations last summer when Brighton’s valuation exceeded £100million — and by some accounts reached as high as £115million.

United reporter Steven Railston, speaking on the Manchester Evening News’ Manchester is Red podcast, outlined the financial logic behind the club’s patience. “Brighton, in the space of 12 months, have gone from wanting £115million potentially for Carlos Baleba to being happy to sell him in a £70million deal,” Railston said. “So United have saved £45million potentially there in the space of 12 months for a player who they have always liked. And that’s why they’ve reignited their interest here — they’ve crunched the numbers, they see a player that they like and they’re willing to overlook a disappointing 2025/26 season.”

Baleba endured a difficult campaign at Brighton, with Seagulls manager Fabian Hurzeler publicly acknowledging that transfer speculation from United had unsettled the Cameroonian midfielder. Despite those concerns, United’s recruitment team — led by Jason Wilcox, Christopher Vivell, and Michael Sansoni — maintained their conviction that Baleba fits the profile they needed.

Railston explained the specific role Baleba is expected to fill alongside Santos and Tielemans. “They needed a bit more mobility. They needed a player who could offer a little bit more to the back four, a bit more protection. He will get through the bulk of the defensive work, he’ll make interceptions, he’ll put himself about, and he’ll really add some energy in the midfield.”

One complication is an ankle ligament injury that is expected to keep Baleba sidelined until around mid-September. Railston described the signing as an “acid test” for the trio driving United’s transfer strategy, noting that the club has held a consistent internal view on Baleba even when external opinion — including among supporters — turned sceptical after his underwhelming season.

“The club have got an opinion on Baleba and they’ve stuck by it,” Railston added. “United are confident about him and they believe he can add quality to this midfield.” Whether that confidence is vindicated will depend largely on how quickly the 21-year-old recovers and adapts to life at Old Trafford.