Manchester United have finalised the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth £70 million, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed the move over the weekend after the Cameroon international underwent a medical.
Romano reported on Sunday morning that all necessary paperwork had been exchanged and signed between the two clubs, describing the transfer as "100 per cent confirmed" ahead of an expected official announcement. Baleba is set to put pen to paper on a five-year contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2031.
The 21-year-old midfielder has long been a target for United, who had initially attempted to land him last summer but were reportedly quoted a fee in excess of £100 million by Brighton at the time. The eventual £70m package represents a significant reduction from those earlier demands.
Baleba's arrival gives manager Michael Carrick a fresh option in midfield, though it remains unclear exactly when he will be available to feature. There is a suggestion that his debut could come around mid-September, with United facing an extended three-week international break shortly afterward before returning to Premier League action at home to Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
His move to Manchester was not going to affect Brighton's immediate plans regardless, as the midfielder had been expected to miss the opening weeks of the season through injury. That meant he would not have featured in the Seagulls' Premier League curtain-raiser against Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton have also been dealing with fitness concerns over Yankuba Minteh, a player who has attracted interest from Liverpool. Minteh underwent surgery on his right leg after picking up an injury while playing for the club against Roma, and he may not be fit again until October or possibly even November.
Baleba becomes the third midfielder to join Manchester United this summer, following the £50 million capture of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and a £35 million deal that brought Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. Both Santos and Tielemans were named in the starting lineup for United's match against Hull City on Saturday.
The reinforcements in central midfield have become a priority for the club following the departure of Casemiro, who left at the end of his contract in July. United's midfield options have been further stretched by the situation surrounding Manuel Ugarte, who could also depart and now faces an extended period on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a serious knee injury sustained while on international duty with Uruguay at the World Cup.
With Baleba's move, United will have completed their fourth first-team signing of the transfer window. The club also added Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer following his release from Leeds United, rounding out a summer of squad rebuilding under Carrick as he looks to reshape the team's midfield core for the coming campaign.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.