'The 19-year-old boy who couldn't even speak English' becomes a £132 billion Man Utd man! A major signing launched amid the opening match disaster... "Brighton's heart, Carlos Baleba, is now in our hands"

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Manchester United has signed midfielder Carlos Baleba (22).

On the 26th, Man Utd announced via its official club website that "a contract with Baleba has been concluded until June 2031." The deal is for five years with an option to extend by one year, and Baleba will wear the number 20 jersey.

The transfer fee is reported to be a total of £70 million (approximately 132 billion won), consisting of a base fee of £65 million plus an additional £5 million in options. With this signing, Man Utd has spent a total of £150 million (282.9 billion won) on midfield reinforcements alone this summer.

Jason Wilcox, Man Utd director, stated, "Baleba is an elite midfielder with limitless potential for development and a player proven in the league."

This signing is part of squad reinforcement following a poor start to the season. In the 2026-2027 English Premier League (EPL) opening match, Man Utd lost 0-2 to promoted side Hull City. With Casemiro's departure and Manuel Ugarte sidelined due to injury creating a midfield void, even new signings Andre Santos and Yury Tillemans failed to meet expectations, leading the club to finally secure Baleba, who had been on their target list.

Baleba, a Cameroonian national born in 2004, progressed through the youth system of French club Lille before joining Brighton in 2023. In the 2024-2025 EPL season, he ranked sixth among midfielders in combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes and fourth in progressive dribbles per 90 minutes, contributing on both offensive and defensive ends. Last season, he played 31 league matches, recording top 8% in tackles and interceptions and top 1% in second-ball recoveries, helping Brighton secure qualification for the UEFA Conference League (UECL).

However, Baleba is currently injured and is expected to return by the end of September.

Baleba said, "It is a great honor to join my dream club," and added, "I will do my part to contribute to the team's success under the guidance of manager Michael Carrick."

He also posted a heartfelt farewell message to his former club Brighton on his social media. He recalled, "I barely spoke English when I came to England at 19, and I didn't know what this club would mean to me."

He continued, "Thanks to the staff, teammates, and fans who tried to understand me both on and off the pitch, Amex Stadium felt like home." He further stated, "No matter where I play, Brighton will always remain in my game," showing his enduring respect for the club that helped him adapt to the English stage.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original