Carlos Baleba set for Man Utd medical after £70m agreement
Carlos Baleba is set to undergo Man United medical after signing from Brighton.
Man United have agreed a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. The agreement is of up to £70m, with the Cameroon international set to undergo his medical this weekend, as per latest transfer news.
Man Utd agree Carlos Baleba deal
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Brighton for Baleba, with the initial fee understood to be £65m plus a potential £5m in add-ons. As reported by BBC Sport, the breakthrough came on Friday evening, allowing the 22-year-old to travel to Manchester for his medical. Brighton have also negotiated a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.
As reported by The Guardian, Baleba will become United’s most expensive signing of the summer even before the potential add-ons are included. The deal would take their total spending to around £148m. Baleba joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and quickly established himself as an important part of their midfield. His performances have now convinced United to make another major investment in the position.
Baleba will be the third midfielder signed by Michael Carrick this summer after Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos arrived from Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively. Baleba mainly plays as a defensive midfielder. His strength, ball-winning and work rate should give United more balance in midfield.
Baleba gives Carrick more midfield options
United had wanted to strengthen their midfield after Casemiro left when his contract expired. Manuel Ugarte was also expected to depart this summer. But he has suffered a serious knee injury while on international duty with Uruguay which has changed those plans. Baleba’s arrival adds depth to Carrick’s midfield. Santos can also play as a defensive midfielder while Tielemans has more attacking quality from deeper positions.
The importance of a strong midfield has been previously stressed on by Carrick. The United manager believes a balanced midfield can bring more consistency and give the team a stronger structure. Baleba could also help with United’s defensive problems. He mainly plays in midfield but has also played at left-back on a few occasions. His ability to cover different areas could give United more options during the season.
United are still deciding if they need another player in that position. Luke Shaw remains an option, while Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui can also play there despite being right-backs. Baleba is currently recovering from an ankle injury. He picked it up during Brighton’s pre-season camp in Austria. United will keep monitoring his recovery. His progress will determine when he can make his debut.
Carlos Baleba’s stats for Brighton for the 2025/26 season, as per FOTMOB–
| Competition | Appearances | Chances Created | Defensive Contributions | Interceptions |
| Premier League | 31 | 9 | 209 | 29 |
| FA Cup | 1 | – | 2 | 2 |
| EFL Cup | 3 | 3 | 14 | 3 |
Man Utd finally land long-term target
United’s agreement represents a significant change from last summer, when Brighton valued Baleba at a much higher price. Brighton had previously hoped to receive a fee closer to the £115m they earned from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo in 2023. United have now secured Baleba for a much lower guaranteed amount.
The midfielder also wanted to move to Old Trafford, which helped speed up the talks. His arrival gives Carrick another option in the middle of the pitch. Baleba can help United control games and protect the defence. Carrick will hope the midfielder can quickly adapt to the pressure, having already gained experience in English football.
United will now focus on bringing their latest signing into the team. The club must also decide if they need more additions before the transfer window closes. Baleba is expected to have his medical before he can complete the move. United have already started their Premier League campaign against newly promoted Hull City.
Read More: Joshua Zirkzee: Napoli launch enquiry as Juventus race heats up
Also Read: Igor Matanovic emerges as Man United option amid Zirkzee exit
Read Next: Toby Collyer in talks over Man Utd exit as West Brom move arises
