Carlos Baleba Manchester United move is complete, with the Cameroon midfielder joining Brighton & Hove Albion on a contract running until 2031, with United holding an option to extend it by another year. The transfer is the latest of a series of big changes in Michael Carrick’s midfield.
It was officially not revealed the financial terms of the deal, but reports suggested it was £60 million plus add-ons. There have been other reports of the guaranteed fee as being £65 million, and then another £5 million in bonuses.
22 year-old Baleba said his joining United was “an incredible feeling” and “the club is my dream place”. He also expressed his excitement about working with Carrick, praising the former England and Manchester United midfielder’s experience and knowledge of the game.
The Cameroon international joins Brighton from French club Lille following a three-season spell at the club. Last season, he made 31 appearances in the Premier League, but missed out some time due to the AFCON where he represented Cameroon.
Baleba is recovering from a pre-season ankle ligament injury. The injury is not expected to keep him out for a long time, but he is not expected to be in the game right away, according to reports.
Brighton’s valuation was previously reported to be over £100m, which knocked United’s man out of the running for Baleba. The final pact is a much more modest up-front investment.
His signing marks the latest batch of midfield signing moves for United, which saw the first appearance of former Real Madrid midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. The trio are substantial additions as Carrick gets his side in shape for the upcoming Premier League season.
