Manchester United, Brighton close to deal for Carlos Baleba

Published Aug 19, 08:49 AM UTC

Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion are nearing an agreement for the transfer of 22-year-old midfielder Carlos Baleba. United have submitted an offer of approximately £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons, though this is below Brighton's valuation. Amicable negotiations continue. Baleba is recovering from an ankle ligament injury, which is not considered serious. The Cameroon international has played 112 times for Brighton since joining from Lille in 2023. United have already signed midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos this summer, and were also interested in Ederson and Elliot Anderson. Analysis by The Athletic's Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell notes that United pursued Baleba last summer, and despite a difficult 2025-26 season, his underlying data and performances for Cameroon remain highly rated. His left-footedness could also provide cover at left-back.