Ruben Amorim and the Manchester United higher-ups are looking to put things right in this summer’s transfer market – and they have done so by securing the signatures of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. They have also enquired about Carlos Baleba and how much the midfielder will cost has been revealed.
Benjamin Sesko also looks to have all-but moved to Old Trafford, too, with David Ornstein confirming that an agreement in principle has been struck. That said, Amorim’s engine room – a two-man pivot in a 3-4-3 – is still in need of reinforcement.
Baleba, as mentioned, is a Premier League-proven central midfielder that the Portuguese tactician admires. The aforementioned Ornstein reported that Brighton & Hove Albion have been contacted by the club – but how much, exactly, would the 21-year-old cost?
The Exact Cost of Baleba Summer Move Revealed
Carlos Baleba in action for Brighton & Hove Albion
Baleba has long been touted as the next up-and-coming midfielder who will cost north of £100 million. Previous examples include Moises Caicedo’s move to Chelsea and Declan Rice, when he swapped West Ham United for Arsenal in the summer 2023 for an eye-catching fee.
Born in 2004, Baleba mastered his craft by joining the Ecole de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun academy at the age of 13; his talent quickly stood out. French side LOSC Lille called upon his services in the summer of 2022 before Brighton came sniffing.
We all know of the Seagulls’ off-the-chart talent identification – and Baleba is living proof of just that. After a bit-part season under Roberto De Zerbi, he was something of an indispensable presence in the middle of the park for German boss Fabian Hurzeler.
Baleba vs Ugarte - 24/25 Premier League Stats
Statistic
Minutes
Goals + Assists
Aerials won per game
Tackles per game
Interceptions per game
Dribbles per game
Overall rating
According to a report from ESPN, the Cameroonian’s signature would cost any would-be buyer – Manchester United included – around the £105 million mark, which equates to €120 million.
The report has also suggested that Baleba, whose 2024/25 Premier League statistics compare well against those of Rice and Caicedo, is happy to remain a Brighton player beyond this summer, despite the interest from Amorim and his entourage.
Last season, Baleba chalked up 34 appearances for Brighton in the English top flight; in that time, he scored three goals and notched an additional assist for good measure. However, the majority of his work is done by disrupting the play of the opponents and then charging, effortlessly, through the midfield.
baleba brighton
Being physical is Baleba’s most scalable trait on the football pitch – and it’s often what allowed Brighton to exercise their free-flowing football. The left-footed star has all the tools to be fine-tuned into one of the beautiful game’s few world-beaters.
It’s simply up to his future employers to ensure he remains on track and fulfils every inch of his promise. As reported by Ornstein, however, his current contract runs until 2028, and Brighton have no intention of selling one of their star men this summer.
All statistics per WhoScored – correct as of 08/06/2025