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Manchester United have completed the signing of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a deal worth up to £70m.
The Premier League club will pay an initial £65m for the 22-year-old, with a further £5m available in potential add-ons. Brighton have also negotiated a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.
Baleba has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with an option to extend his stay for another year. The midfielder becomes another major addition to United's squad as the club continues to strengthen its midfield.
"It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams," Baleba said. "Playing at Old Trafford is always special, but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour."
He also expressed his excitement about working with manager Michael Carrick, praising his experience and knowledge of the game.
United renewed their interest in Baleba after previously exploring a move for him near the end of last summer's transfer window. At the time, Brighton's valuation was reportedly above £100m, making a deal difficult to complete.
Baleba joined Brighton from French club Lille in 2023 and quickly established himself as an important part of the team. He made 112 appearances for the Seagulls and scored four goals. Last season, he played 31 Premier League matches as Brighton finished eighth and secured qualification for the Conference League.
The midfielder is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury suffered during Brighton's pre-season training camp in Austria, meaning he may have to wait before making his United debut.
His arrival comes after United already added Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa to their midfield options. The club decided further reinforcement was needed following a disappointing 2-0 defeat by Hull City in their opening Premier League match.
Baleba is expected to bring greater physicality, defensive strength and mobility to United's midfield. He is particularly effective at winning possession, covering ground and carrying the ball forward.
His statistics from the 2024-25 campaign underline those qualities. He ranked highly among Premier League midfielders for possessions won, interceptions, ball recoveries and duels won. He also averaged 6.7 progressive carries per 90 minutes and recorded a top speed of 34.5km/h.
While Baleba is not primarily known for controlling possession or dictating play, his defensive qualities could complement midfielders such as Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Santos.
United's summer spending now stands at around £153m as they prepare for a return to the Champions League.
The move also represents a significant investment in Baleba, with only Paul Pogba having previously cost United more than the £70m they are committing to the midfielder.
