Manchester United Bolster Squad with Cameroonian Baliba

Manchester (United Kingdom) - AFP - Manchester United, the third-placed team in last season’s English Premier League, strengthened their squad by signing young Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba from local rivals Brighton, as announced on Tuesday.

The club stated in a press release: “Manchester United is pleased to confirm the signing of Carlos Baleba, pending the completion of registration procedures.” It added, “The Cameroon international has signed a contract until June 2031, with an option to extend for an additional year.”

United did not disclose any details regarding the transfer fee, but the specialized transfer website Transfermarkt valued the deal at €75.90 million.

The 22-year-old defender had represented Brighton since the summer of 2023, having joined from French club Lille, which signed him in 2022 and gave him his professional debut the following year.

United stated that “at the age of 22, Baleba has already established himself as one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League.” It added, “During the 2024-2025 season, he ranked sixth among midfielders in the league in terms of total interventions and ball recoveries...”

Last season, Baleba played 31 Premier League matches, contributing to Brighton’s qualification for the Conference League after finishing in eighth place.

The new season has not started well for Michael Carrick’s team, which suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Hull City on Saturday.

The Cameroonian said, “It is an incredible feeling to join a club I have dreamed of. Playing at Old Trafford is always special, but having the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player is a true honor.”