Manchester United Complete £70m Deal for Carlos Baleba

Manchester United have pushed their summer rebuild up another gear, agreeing a deal worth up to £70m for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.

A breakthrough in negotiations came on Friday evening, clearing the way for the 22-year-old to undergo a medical ahead of his move to Old Trafford. Once that hurdle is cleared, only the final paperwork will stand between United and their latest midfield addition.

The Cameroon international became a priority target this week as United moved decisively to bolster the heart of their team. The club had already brought in Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, but chose to go back into the market to add more energy and presence in the middle of the pitch.

United will pay an initial £65m for Baleba, with a further £5m agreed in performance-related add-ons.

Brighton have also secured a sell-on clause, protecting their long-term interest in a player they developed into one of the Premier League’s most coveted young midfielders.

The numbers underline it: United are betting big on Baleba becoming a central figure in their next era.