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Manchester United has completed the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £70 million, with a base fee of £65 million and £5 million in potential add-ons. The 22-year-old Cameroon international has agreed to a five-plus-one-year contract after passing his medical.
It’s a deal that’s been simmering for well over a year. United first registered serious interest in Baleba back in 2025, but Brighton’s asking price at the time exceeded £100 million. Fast forward to August 2026, and the price dropped to a level both clubs could work with.
From Lille to Brighton to Old Trafford
Baleba arrived at Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023 for roughly £27 million, which means Brighton is pocketing more than double what they paid in just three years. Since landing on the south coast, Baleba racked up 112 appearances for Brighton. Born in January 2004, he’s still just 22 and entering what should be the beginning of his peak years.
The deal gained real momentum in mid-August 2026. Personal terms were agreed first, then the two clubs hammered out the transfer fee. His medical was scheduled for August 21-22, and the announcement followed shortly after.
There is one wrinkle. Baleba is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during pre-season. He’s expected to miss another two to three weeks, which means United’s new midfield signing won’t be available for selection immediately.
United’s midfield overhaul takes shape
Baleba becomes Manchester United’s third midfield acquisition of the current summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
The difference between Brighton’s initial £100 million-plus valuation and the eventual £65 million base fee tells its own story. Baleba’s ankle injury likely played a role in reducing the price.
What this means for the Premier League midfield arms race
Chelsea’s £115 million deal for Caicedo in 2023 reset everyone’s expectations for what a top-tier midfielder costs. Baleba’s fee, while substantial, looks almost reasonable by comparison.
At 22, Baleba has the potential to be a foundational piece at Old Trafford for the better part of a decade. If the £65 million fee gets amortized over a six-year contract, the annual cost looks far more digestible than the sticker price suggests. Brighton turned £27 million into £65 million in three years.
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