Manchester United have officially completed the signing of Carlos Baleba, bringing the highly rated Cameroon midfielder to Old Trafford in a deal worth up to £70 million.
The 22-year-old has signed a contract running until June 2031, with United also holding an option to extend it for another season. The reported fee is £65 million up front plus a further £5 million in add-ons, while Baleba is set to earn around £100,000 per week.
More importantly, this is a signing that appears to fit exactly what Manchester United have been missing.
Baleba may not be the biggest name in world football yet, but his statistics explain why United were so determined to bring him in.
During the 2024/25 Premier League season, he ranked sixth among midfielders for combined tackles and interceptions while also sitting fourth for progressive carries. Even during a less convincing campaign last season, he still made 31 league appearances, ranked inside the top eight per cent for tackles and interceptions, and was among the top one per cent for possession recoveries.
Those numbers highlight the qualities United believe can transform their midfield.
The team has lacked physical presence and ball-winning ability in the middle of the pitch, particularly when opponents turn matches into intense battles. Baleba brings exactly that combination of strength, aggression and mobility.
He is not simply a player who sits in front of the defence either. His ability to carry the ball forward means he can win possession and immediately turn defence into attack.
For fans following the latest Manchester United developments through 12B Sports, this could potentially be one of the most important additions to the squad this summer.
The transfer also has an interesting background.
According to reports, Manchester United had been monitoring Baleba for around two years. The midfielder himself had apparently made it clear that Old Trafford was his preferred destination, even after the move failed to happen last summer.
That level of commitment clearly impressed United.
Footballers often have several options when they reach this stage of their careers, but Baleba never hid his desire to play for the Red Devils. He explained that his decision was heavily influenced by something his father told him when he was a child.
His father once told him that he would play for the biggest club in the world.
Then he named Manchester United.
That childhood conversation stayed with Baleba, making his arrival at Old Trafford about much more than just another transfer.
Baleba will wear the No.20 shirt at Manchester United, the same number he wore when he first joined Brighton.
It is another small detail that makes the transfer feel significant.
Speaking after completing the move, Baleba described joining United as an incredible feeling. Playing at Old Trafford had always been something special to him, and now he will have the opportunity to do it wearing the famous red shirt.
He also spoke enthusiastically about working with Michael Carrick.
The young midfielder believes Carrick’s experience and understanding of football can help him reach another level. That will be particularly important because United are not expecting Baleba to arrive as a finished product.
Bruno Fernandes also made the same point.
The United captain praised Baleba’s physical strength, energy and ability to carry the ball forward, but stressed that the youngster will need time to develop. The club believes he can significantly improve the squad, while the existing players will help him adapt to the demands of playing for United.
That combination of expectation and patience could be crucial.
While Baleba is clearly excited about the next chapter, he has not forgotten where his Premier League journey began.
He joined Brighton as a 19-year-old who could barely speak English. At the time, he was immediately placed under the shadow of Moises Caicedo, who had just left the club for Chelsea in a British-record £115 million deal.
One year later, Baleba produced a memorable moment against Chelsea by winning the ball from Caicedo before scoring.
It may not have been one of the most famous goals in Brighton history, but for Baleba, it represented something important. From that moment, he no longer felt like someone simply wearing another player’s shirt.
He had started creating his own story.
His farewell message to Brighton was particularly emotional. Baleba admitted that last season had been difficult and recalled being substituted after only 22 minutes against Aston Villa. Sitting in the dressing room afterwards, he felt devastated.
Yet Brighton supporters did not turn against him.
Instead, they continued to support a young player who had arrived in England without speaking much English and had been given the time and environment to develop.
That support clearly meant a lot to him.
The pressure will now increase dramatically.
At Brighton, Baleba was a talented young midfielder developing away from the spotlight. At Manchester United, every mistake will be analysed, every poor performance will attract criticism and every good game will bring even greater expectations.
The £70 million price tag will only add to that pressure.
But stylistically, the move makes plenty of sense.
United need someone who can win physical battles, recover possession, cover ground and drive the ball forward. Baleba offers all four qualities while still having plenty of room to improve.
The key will be how quickly he adapts to Carrick’s system and the expectations of playing at Old Trafford.
If he develops as United believe he can, Baleba could become far more than an expensive summer signing. He could eventually become the midfield powerhouse around which the next Manchester United side is built.
For 12B Sports, the real excitement now is not simply seeing Baleba wear the No.20 shirt. It is seeing whether the boy who dreamed of playing for Manchester United can grow into the midfielder capable of helping the club return to the top.
His dream has finally come true.
Now the hard part begins.
