You knew a third Manchester United midfield signing was coming, at some point, this summer transfer window. According to multiple outlets that third United midfielder signing could be is Carlos Baleba, a 22-year-old Camroon international. There is no club-to-club agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion, as of yet, but negotiations are in advanced stages. The news was first reported by The Athletic/New York Times’ David Ornstein, but the other transfer market “insiders” have it too.
🚨🔴 Manchester United are set to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton as new midfielder!
Official bid over €70m plus €6m add-ons sent to Brighton, as per @David_Ornstein.
No club to club agreement yet but #MUFC to send new bid.
Baleba, pushing since August 2025 to join United. pic.twitter.com/pINmzs2TNI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 19, 2026
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Manchester United at Hull City
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🚨⏳ Manchester United have reached full agreement with Carlos Baleba on personal terms. 100% agreed.
However, no final agreement yet with Brighton. No green light for medical at this stage.#MUFC have submitted a £60m + £5m offer. Following @David_Ornstein. ManUtd are trying… pic.twitter.com/aLVlnDHOqG
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 19, 2026
You can see the Tweets above from both Fabrizio Romano and Florian Plettenberg. United have already signed Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea. They had a deal lined up with Atalanta for Ederson, but changed their mind and pulled out at the last minute.
With Casemiro exiting and Manuel Ugarte set to miss most of the season with a knee ligament injury, the middle of the park was badly in need of reinforcements/an overhaul.
If/when the Baleba deal gets over the line, it would most likely be the final major move that United make this summer.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.