Manchester United has confirmed the acquisition of Cameroon international Carlos Baleba from Brighton. The 22-year-old midfielder has committed to a contract that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2031, with an additional one-year option included in the agreement.

The transfer represents a significant investment for the club, with an initial fee reported at £65 million. Baleba is the third midfield addition to the squad this summer, following the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. These acquisitions bring Manchester United’s total spending on the midfield position to approximately £148 million during the current transfer window.

According to reports, Manchester United had previously expressed interest in signing Baleba during the previous summer transfer window. At that time, Brighton reportedly held out for a valuation closer to the £115 million fee they received for Moisés Caicedo’s move to Chelsea in 2023. The eventual completion of this deal marks the conclusion of a long-standing pursuit by the club’s recruitment team.