Carlos Baleba's rise from schoolboy footballer in Cameroon to a £70m Manchester United midfielder has been rapid, but his toughest challenge yet could arrive this weekend at Old Trafford against Tottenham Hotspur.
The 22-year-old, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion on 25 August, has yet to make his United debut after the club confirmed he arrived with an existing ankle injury. There is a chance he may not feature until after the upcoming international break, meaning the Cameroon international could be thrust into action during a demanding run of fixtures that includes a trip across the Pennines to Leeds and Champions League meetings with Atletico Madrid and Como.
United's hierarchy had not anticipated the club sitting 12th in the Premier League table with only one win from five matches, nor suffering an EFL Cup exit at the hands of Brighton after squandering a two-goal lead at home. That backdrop has intensified scrutiny on new signings, with Baleba viewed as the man expected to finally solidify the defensive midfield role that has proven difficult to fill since Casemiro's departure last May.
United's interest in Baleba dates back roughly a year, when the club pursued other midfield targets, including Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes — the latter now on Tottenham's books — before turning to Baleba just before their opening-day defeat at Hull City. Given reports that Baleba was being valued at well over £100m by the summer of 2025, United consider the £70m fee, originally agreed after his £23.2m move from Lille to Brighton in 2023, to represent strong business. Still, with the midfielder yet to play a single minute for his new club, any verdict on the transfer remains premature — a point underlined by Fernandes' modest start in north London.
Off the pitch, those close to the club say Baleba's early reticence and nerves are gradually fading. English is not his first language, though his command of it has improved considerably since his days at Brighton. He has reportedly formed a close friendship with fellow academy product Amad Diallo, the pair bonding over their shared African roots while working through recovery sessions together. The connection was recently highlighted in a video posted by Amad, showing Baleba teasing him after Cameroon defeated Amad's Ivory Coast in a friendly on 3 October. Baleba has also built rapport with other teammates, including former Lille colleague Leny Yoro and Denmark's Patrick Dorgu.
While Brighton sources have dismissed suggestions that Baleba's head was turned by United's late interest last year — which some believe contributed to a drop in form during the 2024-25 season's second half — his performances before that dip had drawn admiration, with reports linking him to Real Madrid at one stage.
Those who know Baleba point to a deep well of motivation behind his calm exterior. He has previously spoken about the rigorous training regime instilled in him by his father growing up, crediting it as a key factor in his development into a professional footballer. He also fulfilled a promise made to his late mother by building her a house in Douala, though she passed away shortly before he departed Lille and never got to see it completed.
Baleba has also opened up about his love of manga, citing the long-running series Fist of the North Star as a personal favourite. Reflecting on its central character, Kenshiro, he once explained: "When he started out, everyone beat him up, he got covered in scars, then he became strong. After that, he was the one beating everyone up. He never gave up. I like that attitude."
That resilience may be exactly what United need from their record midfield signing as pressure mounts following a turbulent start to the campaign.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.