Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has hailed the 'young and exciting' Carlos Baleba as the midfielder signs for the Red Devils in a £70 million deal. The 22-year-old has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford for some time and has finally made the move from Brighton in a transfer worth an initial £65m, plus £5m in add-ons. The Cameroon international has signed a contract until 2031, with an option to extend that deal for a further year.
Fernandes praises Baleba's energy and physicality
Fernandes likes what he has seen from Baleba and is excited about what he can bring to the midfield alongside him at Manchester United. 'He's a very energetic player. Strong physically, he can push us up the pitch driving the ball,' the Portuguese star said at the PFA Awards after being named the 2026 Players' Player of the Year. 'Young and exciting, the club have been following him for two years.'
The central midfielder has three seasons of experience in the Premier League after joining the Seagulls from Lille in 2023 for an initial £23.2m. Baleba was heavily linked with making the move to Manchester last summer but a deal was not struck. He is thrilled to now make the switch, which Red Devils director of football Jason Wilcox said the player was determined to complete.
Baleba: 'It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams'
'It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams,' said Baleba. 'Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour. I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level. The ambition of everyone at the club is extremely clear, the future is hugely exciting, and I am determined to play my part in delivering the success that we are capable of together.'
Baleba completes a significant revamp of the Manchester United midfield this summer which has also seen Andrey Santos arrive from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. Those two signings started with Fernandes in the shock 2-0 defeat at Hull City on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Kobbie Mainoo is also in contention for a place in Michael Carrick's midfield, with the England international replacing Tielemans in the second half at Hull.
Wilcox: 'Carlos is an elite midfielder with immense potential'
Wilcox said of the latest arrival: 'Carlos is an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further. He brings a unique combination of qualities that will really complement our squad. We are delighted to further strengthen our midfield with the addition of another established senior international with a proven track record of performing in the Premier League. Carlos' determination to join Manchester United and his confidence that we will achieve our shared ambitions mean that he is the perfect signing as we continue to build a dynamic and entertaining team ready to compete across multiple competitions.'
The transfer marks a significant investment in the club's midfield rebuild, with Baleba expected to compete for a starting spot alongside Fernandes, Santos, Tielemans, and Mainoo as United look to bounce back from their opening-day defeat.
