Manchester United sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in £70m deal

Manchester United have announced the signing of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in a deal worth up to £70m.

The Cameroon international has agreed a five-season contract with the Red Devils, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2031. The agreement also includes an option for a further season.

United will pay £65m for the 22-year-old, with a further £5m available in add-ons. The move makes Baleba the latest player to leave Brighton after establishing himself in the Premier League with the south-coast club.

Baleba joined Manchester United after two seasons at Brighton, who signed him from Lille for €27m in the summer of 2023. The English club recruited the midfielder as a replacement for Ecuador international Moises Caicedo, who had departed for Chelsea.

Caicedo moved from Brighton to Chelsea for £115m. That substantial transfer fee encouraged Lille to seek a significant increase on the amount Brighton had initially paid for Baleba.

The Cameroonian midfielder’s move to England follows his development after he joined Lille from a football academy in Cameroon. Brighton then brought him to the club in 2023, with the intention of filling the gap left by Caicedo’s departure.

United’s agreement gives Baleba a long-term contract, with the initial five-year term running through 2031 and the possibility of extending his stay for another campaign. The total value of the transfer will depend on the additional £5m in performance-related payments.

Brighton’s original £27m investment in Baleba has therefore produced a substantial return, with the club now receiving £65m up front from Manchester United and potentially another £5m through add-ons.

The transfer also completes a chain of midfield moves involving the three clubs. Brighton signed Baleba from Lille after Caicedo left for Chelsea, while Manchester United have now secured Baleba from Brighton.

At 22, Baleba arrives at United having already moved between a Cameroon academy, Lille and Brighton. His contract length and the option for an extra season underline the long-term commitment made by the Premier League club in completing the deal.