Manchester United have completed the signing of midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton. The Cameroon international, 22, joins the club in a deal worth up to £70m, made up of a £65m guaranteed fee plus £5m in add-ons. He has signed a five-year contract which includes the option of a further year.
Baleba is currently injured having picked up an ankle injury in pre-season, but Sky Sports News understands he could be back by mid-September. Manchester United play Manchester City on September 13, live on Sky Sports. Follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest sports news, videos, features, analysis and much more Baleba's arrival at Old Trafford brings an end to a transfer saga that has lasted almost 12 months.
Sky Sports News has been reporting on United's interest in Baleba since last autumn and broke the news that they enquired about signing him during the January transfer window. He remained one of United's top targets this summer and becomes their third addition in midfield after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. "It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams.
Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour," Baleba told the club's website. "I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level. "The ambition of everyone at the club is extremely clear, the future is hugely exciting, and I am determined to play my part in delivering the success that we are capable of together." Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and made 112 appearances for the club.
He featured 35 times last season and was absent for a spell while representing Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Analysis by Sky Sports' William Bitibiri: A year ago, Carlos Baleba appeared to have the world at his feet. A breakout season at Brighton had established the then-21-year-old as one of the Premier League's most coveted young midfielders, with a move to one of Europe's elite clubs seemingly inevitable.
Manchester United were among those interested, having identified Baleba as a potential transformative presence in midfield. But Brighton's reported £100m-plus valuation proved a stumbling block. The move never materialised and Baleba stayed at the Amex.
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