Manchester United have completed the surprise signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48 million, making him the first acquisition under new manager Michael Carrick. The move addresses urgent midfield needs following Casemiro's departure and Manuel Ugarte's long-term injury, with Youri Tielemans also joining for £35 million.
Why Santos Was Targeted
Santos, 22, was often a backup at Chelsea last season as they finished seven places and 19 points behind United. Since Alex Ferguson retired 13 years ago, United had only signed four players from 'big six' rivals: Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Mason Mount (all Chelsea) and Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal). Santos is a more unexpected choice, but his skills could complement Kobbie Mainoo. Under Carrick, only Bruno Fernandes (1,679 minutes) and Luke Shaw (1,589) played more than Mainoo (1,503) among outfield players.
Passing and Distribution Strengths
Santos's key strength is his distribution. He is a confident passer, capable of dictating play with short passes or adventurous through balls. His forward pass completion rate of 80% ranked third among Premier League midfielders with at least 900 minutes last season. His pass completion into the final third (82.2%) was sixth among midfielders. He averaged 8.1 line-breaking passes per 90 minutes, behind only 11 midfielders, and Elliot Anderson (10.2) was the only other player aged 23 or under above him. Additionally, 14.2% of his open-play passes broke at least one defensive line, ranking joint 15th out of 91 midfielders.
Defensive Attributes and Composure
Santos appears more defensively aware than Mainoo, with a combative streak that could bring midfield balance. He won 62% of his duels last season, a rate bettered by only three regular midfielders. While his 53.7 pressures per 90 placed him behind 63 midfielders, he excels in individual battles. Under pressure, Santos completed 86.5% of his passes, ranking 21st out of 94 regular midfielders, significantly ahead of Casemiro's 80.4% (67th). Casemiro's overall pass completion was 81.3%, compared to Santos's 89.9%—a figure only seven midfielders surpassed.
Potential Impact and Future
Santos is incisive from deep positions, reminiscent of Casemiro's ability to play killer balls. He averaged 1.8 successful layoffs per 90 minutes, showing effectiveness as a link-up player. After a promising loan at Strasbourg—where he was voted in the Ligue 1 team of the season for 2024-25—dislodging Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo at Chelsea proved difficult. Tielemans, 29, is a present-focused signing, but Santos, at 22, has potential to develop. United fans may not have expected this signing, but it could prove a shrewd acquisition for Carrick.
