Carlos Baleba: Man Utd complete €75.9m move for Cameroon midfielder

Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba has joined Manchester United from Brighton for €75.9m, completing a major Premier League move on 25 August.

The 22-year-old defensive midfielder has signed a contract with United until 30 June 2031. Baleba, who was born in Douala, is left-footed and stands 1.79m tall.

His arrival adds another midfield option to the Manchester United squad, with Baleba operating primarily in a defensive midfield role. He joins after three seasons with Brighton, where he established himself in the Premier League following his move from France.

Baleba moved to Brighton from Lille on 29 August 2023 for €27m. The transfer to Manchester United is therefore the second significant fee of his senior career and represents a substantial increase on the amount Brighton paid for him.

Before joining Brighton, Baleba had progressed through Lille’s system. He moved from Brasseries to Lille’s reserve side in January 2022 and then joined the senior Lille squad in July of the same year.

Baleba’s move to Old Trafford was completed at the start of the 2026-27 season. He had not made an appearance in the Premier League or in UEFA Conference League qualifying for Brighton during the current campaign before switching clubs.

The transfer fee is above Baleba’s listed market value of €55m, while his highest recorded valuation is €60m. His previous move from Lille to Brighton had been recorded at €27m.

United have secured the services of a Cameroon international who has now moved between three clubs in France and England since leaving Brasseries. His contract at Manchester United runs for five years, expiring on 30 June 2031.

Baleba’s completed transfer from Brighton to Manchester United was registered on 25 August 2026 for €75.9m.