Baleba Joins Manchester United from Brighton

By Dipo Olowookere

Cameroonian footballer Carlos Baleba has joined Manchester United from Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old midfielder signed for the Mancunian after he missed joining last season because of the high valuation placed on him by The Seagulls.

He signed for Lille in January 2022 and made his senior breakthrough with the French club before joining Albion in August 2023, where he made 112 appearances, scoring four goals.

“It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams. Playing at Old Trafford is always special, but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour.

“I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level.

“The ambition of everyone at the club is extremely clear; the future is hugely exciting, and I am determined to play my part in delivering the success that we are capable of together,” Baleba said of his deal with United, which expires in the summer of 2031, with the option to extend for a further year.

The Director of Football for Manchester United, Mr Jason Wilcox, described the native of Douala, Cameroon, who will wear shirt number 20 at Old Trafford, as an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further, noting that he brings a unique combination of qualities that will really complement Michael Carrick’s squad.

“We are delighted to further strengthen our midfield with the addition of another established senior international with a proven track record of performing in the Premier League.

“Carlos’ determination to join Manchester United and his confidence that we will achieve our shared ambitions mean that he is the perfect signing as we continue to build a dynamic and entertaining team ready to compete across multiple competitions,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Sporting Director for Brighton, Mr Mike Cave, said, “Carlos has made a significant contribution during his time with us, and we’ve seen him develop both as a player and person here.

“When Carlos arrived, he was a young player with huge potential and, through his own hard work and commitment together with the support of our coaches and staff, he has developed into an outstanding Premier League midfielder.

“This is a move that Carlos was keen to make, and we respect that he wants to take this opportunity at this stage of his career. We would like to thank him for everything he has done during his time at Brighton and wish him every success in the next chapter of his journey.”