Carlos Baleba is undergoing a medical at Manchester United after the clubs agreed a £65m fixed fee plus up to £5m in add-ons for the 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder, according to David Ornstein, Laurie Whitwell, and Andy Naylor of The Athletic and Simon Stone of BBC Sport. The deal was struck on Friday evening, August 21, with Baleba expected to travel to Manchester that same night ahead of his medical on Saturday.
Brighton signed Baleba from Lille in the summer of 2023 for £23.2m, per BBC Sport. Two years and 112 appearances later, he is set to leave for a fee that represents a profit of more than £40m for the south-coast club, a sell-on clause included.
How the deal came together
United’s interest in Baleba goes back at least a year. Last summer the club would reportedly have paid up to £75m, but Brighton held firm and demanded more than £100m. Twelve months on, the two clubs found common ground more quickly. United opened with an offer of around £60m plus £5m in add-ons, reported by Ornstein on August 19, before Brighton accepted the revised £65m fixed fee two days later.
Baleba has verbally agreed personal terms with United and is set to sign a five-year contract with an option for an additional 12 months, subject to visa approval. Brighton CEO Paul Barber addressed the broader situation without confirming the move directly, telling talkSPORT: ‘There’s nothing particular to say about Carlos right now, other than he is an extremely talented young midfielder, who has played very well for us and has been attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in the world for a couple of years now.’
Player profile and what he brings
Baleba made 35 appearances for Brighton last season, including 23 Premier League starts, missing a stretch of games after representing Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he played five matches. A left-footed central midfielder, he is also capable of providing cover at left-back according to the verified reporting, giving Michael Carrick additional tactical flexibility.
He arrives at Old Trafford carrying a minor ankle ligament injury sustained during Brighton’s pre-season training camp in Austria, which caused him to miss the first leg of their Conference League qualifier against Tromso. The injury is not considered serious or long-term, per the reporting, though a timeline for his return to full fitness will become clearer once his medical is complete.
What it means for United
Once the deal is formally completed, United’s summer spending will reach £153m, per BBC Sport. Baleba joins Andrey Santos, who arrived from Chelsea for £48m according to Goal.com, and Youri Tielemans, who triggered his £35m release clause to leave Aston Villa, also per Goal.com. The Athletic reports those two signings combined cost £83m.
Carrick had a genuine problem to fix in midfield. Manuel Ugarte is sidelined with a serious knee injury suffered at the World Cup with Uruguay, and Casemiro departed on a free transfer this summer. At 22, with 112 Brighton appearances behind him and the ability to play left-back if needed, Baleba addresses both of those losses directly. Brighton have ensured a sell-on clause is included, meaning they will benefit financially if United move him on in the future.
FAQ
How much are Manchester United paying for Carlos Baleba?
United and Brighton have agreed a £65m fixed fee plus up to £5m in performance-related add-ons, making the total potential outlay £70m. A sell-on clause is also included in the agreement.
How old is Carlos Baleba and what position does he play?
Baleba is 22 years old and plays as a central midfielder. He is left-footed and can also provide cover at left-back.
Is Carlos Baleba injured right now?
Yes. Baleba sustained an ankle ligament injury during Brighton’s pre-season training camp in Austria, causing him to miss their Conference League first-leg tie against Tromso. The injury is not considered serious or long-term.