Manchester United agree £70m deal with Brighton for Carlos Baleba

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion for Carlos Baleba in a deal worth up to £70 million, moving one of their priority midfield targets to the brink of a switch to Old Trafford.

The agreement is understood to include £65 million in guaranteed payments and a further £5 million in add-ons, with Brighton also retaining a sell-on clause. Baleba has already agreed personal terms with United and is expected to undergo a medical before completing the remaining formalities of the transfer.

Until those steps are completed and the deal is formally announced, Baleba remains a Brighton player. But the club-to-club agreement represents the decisive breakthrough in negotiations after United had previously seen a lower offer rejected.

The 22-year-old has been identified as a key piece in United’s midfield rebuild, with the club seeking greater physicality, ball-winning ability and athleticism in central areas. His arrival would continue a significant reshaping of the department after earlier additions during the summer.

Baleba will not, however, be available immediately. He is recovering from an ankle ligament injury and Brighton have already confirmed his absence from their opening Premier League fixture. Current expectations are that he will return to contention around the middle of September, meaning United would need to manage his integration carefully during the first weeks of the season.

That injury has not deterred United from pushing ahead with a substantial investment in a player they have tracked for an extended period. Brighton have consistently placed a high value on Baleba, reflecting both his age and his importance within their midfield structure.

The Cameroon international has developed into one of the Premier League’s most physically imposing young midfielders, combining defensive range with the ability to carry possession through pressure. Those qualities have made him an attractive option for a United side attempting to build a more dynamic and competitive midfield.

For Brighton, the agreement would represent another major outgoing transfer and continue the club’s established model of developing young players before selling at significant value.

For United, the move is about more than adding another midfielder. Baleba is being recruited as a long-term component of a broader rebuild, with the size of the fee underlining how strongly the club have prioritised his profile.

The transfer is now subject to the final medical and contractual procedures before United can formally confirm one of the most significant Premier League deals of the summer.