Man Utd agree £70m fee for Brighton’s Baleba

Manchester United have reached an agreement to pay up to £70 million for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. The 22-year-old Cameroon international is set to undergo a medical with the Old Trafford club this weekend, making the deal final. United's interest in Baleba surged after the signings of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, as they aim to bolster their midfield.

The initial fee will be £65 million, with additional potential add-ons of £5 million. Brighton has also negotiated a sell-on clause, which will come into play once the deal is completed. Baleba, who joined Brighton from Lille in 2023, is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during their pre-season training camp in Austria.

United's summer spending will reach a total of £153 million with this move, but it is a significant saving compared to Brighton's initial asking price as the 2025 transfer deadline approached. It remains unclear if United will pursue a left-back signing to compete with Luke Shaw or if Baleba, along with regular right-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, can provide sufficient cover for head coach Michael Carrick.

This transfer concludes United's efforts to strengthen their midfield following Casemiro's departure at the end of his contract. Manuel Ugarte, who was also set to leave, suffered a serious knee injury while representing Uruguay at the World Cup. England international Kobbie Mainoo will be available for the upcoming Premier League match against newly promoted Hull City.

Baleba's acquisition will add more athleticism to Carrick's side, and his eagerness to join Manchester United hastened the transfer process.