Manchester United Secure £70m Deal for Brighton Midfielder Carlos Baleba Manchester United have finalized a £70m transfer deal for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, with the agreement including £65m in guaranteed fees and an additional £5m in performance-related add-ons. Brighton have also included a sell-on clause in the contract, which could see the player transferred to another club at a future date. Baleba is set to sign a five-year contract with United and will undergo his medical examination within the next 24 hours. The move marks United’s third major midfield acquisition of the summer, following the signings of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Sky Sports News has been tracking United’s interest in Baleba since last autumn, with the club reportedly enquiring about a potential transfer during the January transfer window. Despite a reported dip in Baleba’s form for Brighton last season, United officials have expressed satisfaction with the deal, having pursued the player for over a year. The club had initially been quoted a price exceeding £100m during their summer pursuit of Baleba, a figure significantly higher than the £100m paid by Chelsea for Moises Caicedo in 2023, plus £15m in add-ons. However, the current deal reflects a more pragmatic approach, with United securing the player at a lower cost. Baleba, 22, is recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during pre-season and is expected to be fit by mid-September. His anticipated return coincides with United’s upcoming fixtures against Manchester City on September 13 and Fulham on September 20, followed by a three-week international break. This timeline allows Baleba ample time to acclimatize to life at Old Trafford and prepare for his debut.#manchester_united #brighton_hove_albion #paul_pogba #carlos_baleba #sky_sports_news
