Manchester United and Brighton have agreed a deal for Carlos Baleba worth £70m, made up of £65m guaranteed and £5m in add-ons, with a sell-on clause for Brighton. Fabrizio Romano reported the verbal agreement on Friday, August 21. The 22-year-old Cameroon midfielder is set to sign a five-year contract once his medical is complete.
How the deal came together
United’s interest goes back to last summer. They tried to sign Baleba near the end of the 2025 window but were put off by an asking price reported in excess of £100m. United were prepared to go to around £75m and walked away when Brighton held firm.
Talks resumed this summer and the gap closed slowly. On August 19, BBC Sport’s Simon Stone reported United’s offer was still below Brighton’s valuation, and David Ornstein put the proposal at roughly £60m plus £5m. Two days later the clubs settled at £65m plus £5m with a sell-on attached. Newcastle had emerged as a rival for his signature in the meantime.
Who is Baleba and what does he bring
Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023 for £23.2m and has made 112 appearances. Last season he featured 35 times, missing part of the campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon. He can play as a defensive midfielder or in a box-to-box role, which is the physical profile United have been short of in the middle of the pitch.
There is a short-term complication. Baleba is recovering from an ankle ligament injury picked up in pre-season, and BBC Sport reports he is expected to be sidelined for another two to three weeks. It is not considered a long-term problem and it has not held up the transfer.
What it means for United’s midfield
United have already spent heavily in midfield this window, taking Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m in July. Adding Baleba to a group that also includes Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes gives Michael Carrick a deep pool of options in the centre.
Injuries explain some of the urgency. Manuel Ugarte is out with a knee injury suffered at the World Cup, and Mason Mount has a foot problem picked up against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on August 8. United had also backed away from a move for Atalanta’s Ederson earlier in the summer over concerns about a knee injury. Once fit, Baleba covers the hole left by Ugarte.
FAQ
How much are Manchester United paying for Carlos Baleba?
£70m in total: £65m guaranteed plus £5m in add-ons, with a sell-on clause for Brighton.
How old is Carlos Baleba and where is he from?
He is 22 and a Cameroon international. He joined Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023.
Is Carlos Baleba injured right now?
Yes. He is recovering from an ankle ligament injury from pre-season and is expected to be out another two to three weeks, according to BBC Sport.
Has the Baleba transfer been announced?
Not yet. The clubs have a verbal agreement and a five-year contract is ready; the medical and the formal announcement are the remaining steps.