Manchester United Sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton for £70m
BBC Sport reports that Manchester United have completed the signing of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton for a whopping £70 million.
The initial fee is £65 million, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons, while Brighton negotiated a sell-on clause. Baleba has signed a five-year contract with the option to extend for one more year.
"It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams," expressed Baleba. "Playing at Old Trafford is always special, but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour."
This move follows United's surprising 2-0 defeat by Hull City in their Premier League opener, with new signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans making their debuts.
United had attempted to sign Baleba last year but were deterred by Brighton's valuation exceeding £100 million. The 22-year-old has now joined a club seeking to rebuild after missing out on Champions League football last season.
Baleba, who made 112 appearances for Brighton, is currently sidelined with an ankle injury. With United's summer spending reaching £153 million, the club aims to return to the Champions League this season.