Manchester United Closing in on £60m+ Deal to Sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton

Manchester United are on the verge of landing the central midfielder they have coveted for over a year. After a prolonged pursuit that had twice stalled at Brighton’s asking price, the Red Devils are now closing in on a deal to sign Cameroon international Carlos Baleba — and this time, it looks like it will go all the way.

How Close Is the Deal?

Manchester United are close to a full agreement with Brighton to sign Carlos Baleba, with the 22-year-old understood to be preparing to travel to Manchester ahead of a medical. A five-year contract is ready for the Cameroon international to sign once the deal is formally concluded.

The final fee and structure are not yet fully agreed, but the deal is expected to be worth in excess of £60m.

The target is Carlos Baleba, for whom Brighton have received an initial offer of £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons.

Amicable talks continue with all parties working towards finding an agreement for the Cameroon international to move to Old Trafford.

A Two-Year Pursuit — Finally Paying Off

This transfer has been a long time coming. The 22-year-old Cameroon international was hotly tipped to make a move to Old Trafford last summer. Contact was reportedly made only for Brighton to set a price tag in excess of £100 million for a player tied to a contract which extends until 2028. United were forced to back down.

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba accepted that constant links to Manchester United have created “a lot of pressure,” which coincided with some underwhelming performances.

United ultimately diverted the resources they had available last summer towards a new frontline, spending around £200 million on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško. Yet the need for a new central midfielder still very much existed.

Liverpool were viewed as United’s strongest rivals for Baleba’s signature. Manchester City and Tottenham had also been monitoring Baleba’s progress. In the end, it is United who have made the decisive move.

Brighton’s Previous Stance — And Why It Has Changed

Baleba joined Brighton on 29 August 2023, with his contract currently expiring on 30 June 2028, with an option for a further year.

Brighton’s position had been one of firm resistance for months. Brighton were keen to keep hold of Baleba and warned United it would take a fee around the £115 million Chelsea paid to sign Moisés Caicedo to get a deal for Baleba over the line.

With Baleba now entering the final two years of his deal and reportedly pushing for the move himself, Brighton’s resolve has clearly softened — and United have swooped at a fee far below that initial £115m demand.

Who Is Carlos Baleba?

Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba was born on 3 January 2004 in Douala, Cameroon, and plays as a central or defensive midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion. Baleba holds both Cameroonian and French citizenship from his parents. His father is a former professional footballer who played in South Africa and Cameroon.

Baleba’s career has included time at Lille and Lille B before he made the move to England. He joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and has made 112 appearances for the club.

His key attributes per WhoScored include ball interception (very strong), dribbling (strong), and aerial duels (strong), with no significant weaknesses identified.

Player Profile

Career Timeline

Baleba at Brighton — Season by Season

He featured 35 times last season and was absent for a spell while representing Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Injury Factor

The 22-year-old is currently working his way back to fitness after an ankle ligament injury, but the issue is not considered serious or expected to keep him out long-term. Baleba will have to make up for lost time when he returns from the ankle injury in early September.

This is unlikely to derail the transfer, with United fully aware of the situation and pressing ahead regardless.

Why Baleba — The Midfield Case

United had been looking at a new central midfielder after bolstering their forward line through the additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško.

United’s midfield has faced scrutiny throughout Michael Carrick’s tenure, and Baleba’s combination of physicality, press resistance, and ball-winning ability makes him an ideal fit for the engine room at Old Trafford. If the 2024/25 season was not a flash in the pan, United will have executed an excellent midfield rebuild.

Manchester United’s Summer 2026 Window

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