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Manchester United's midfield reconstruction is now complete with the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Red Devils are methodically rebuilding their squad, one position group at a time. Last summer, roughly $272 million was invested to strengthen a struggling attack, and in 2026, it's the midfield's turn for a transformation. Many expect United's backline to be the priority in 12 months' time.
Baleba is no stranger to United supporters, as the club's pursuit of the Cameroonian international was widely reported last year. Brighton had initially demanded at least $136.4 million (£100 million), but ultimately accepted $88.7 million (£65 million) after his value dropped significantly during 2025–26.
There were contributing factors behind Baleba's decline, ranging from transfer speculation to "family problems" cited by Cameroon head coach David Pagou. United are optimistic that the version of Baleba who dazzled in the Premier League two seasons ago will resurface at Old Trafford, as Michael Carrick's midfield unit, despite two summer additions, still needs more tenacity.
As a consequence, they were "mauled by the Tigers" in their Premier League season opener on Saturday.
Here's a breakdown of the winners and losers from the 22-year-old's transfer to Man Utd.
Winners
Youri Tielemans
Man Utd's activation of Youri Tielemans' $47.7 million release clause has been widely praised as one of the shrewdest pieces of business of the summer transfer window.
The Belgian brings extensive Premier League experience and is a technically gifted player who streamlines the build-up and contributes creatively in and around the final third. He should gradually ease the creative burden on Bruno Fernandes.
That said, Tielemans does have his limitations. He's not the most explosive athlete and can appear sluggish in recovery situations. Fortunately, United's latest midfield signing excels precisely in the areas where Tielemans struggles.
While Baleba can carry the ball forward and switch play effectively, he truly shines off the ball. He'll supply the necessary energy alongside Tielemans, eating up ground with ease. According to Opta, in 2024-25, he recorded a top speed of 34.5 km/h, ranking 10th highest among defensive and central midfielders.
On paper, this looks like a well-rounded midfield pairing, and Saturday's match at Hull City offered further evidence that a Tielemans/Andrey Santos pivot isn't suited to that type of fixture. United's midfield was neutralized, and the duo struggled to handle the Tigers' transitions.
Kobbie Mainoo
At first glance, Kobbie Mainoo might appear to be a potential 'loser' from this deal. After all, Baleba adds further congestion to the midfield depth chart and intensifies competition for the England international.
Mainoo is also playing catch-up at the start of the campaign. After penning a new contract in April during an impressive resurgence under Carrick, Mainoo was included in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad. However, his debut at football's biggest stage didn't go as hoped. The United man failed to play a single minute throughout the tournament, yet still took an extended break after it concluded.
As a result, Mainoo was absent throughout preseason and managed just 19 minutes as a substitute in United's Premier League opener at Hull. There's ground for the midfielder to make up.
Nevertheless, Carrick holds the academy product in very high regard, and he is expected to remain a key figure in the midfield this season. United required additional depth given the increased fixture load, and Mainoo will in all likelihood soon reclaim his place as one of Carrick's preferred pivot options.
Baleba would make an ideal partner. While Mainoo is more athletic than Tielemans, his defensive work still needs development. Much like Casemiro did during the second half of last season, Baleba should help compensate for Mainoo's off-ball weaknesses, and the two could be an exciting combination in possession.
Michael Carrick
The newly appointed permanent Man Utd manager has gotten what he wanted. The midfield has been rebuilt — perhaps not with ideal personnel, but the Red Devils can be satisfied with the outcome.
Michael Carrick now has a diverse range of profiles available to him, capable of offering solutions across different fixture types and game situations.
The turnaround he engineered following Ruben Amorim's departure has propelled United back into the Champions League, and while doubts about the defense persist, the club's smart reinforcement of its midfield leaves Carrick with no excuses.
The added fixtures will bring different challenges compared to his interim stint, with squad rotation set to be crucial as the club looks to compete across multiple competitions.
He has already spoken about the necessity of evolving, with United having thrived by operating as underdogs stylistically over the past 15 years. Despite their effectiveness as a counter-attacking side, United are unlikely to challenge for the Premier League title relying on transitional football. They must impose themselves with and without the ball through disciplined pressing and structured build-up play.
The midfield overhaul has raised expectations for Carrick heading into his first full season in charge, but has also made the desired evolution considerably more achievable.
Losers
Andrey Santos
While Baleba appears to be an ideal complement to both Tielemans and Mainoo, there is a stylistic overlap between the Cameroonian and Andrey Santos, the first midfielder United signed this summer.
Like Santos, Baleba is an aggressive tackler who thrives in duels and covers large areas of the pitch. Santos offers greater consistency in possession, but may lack the 22-year-old's unpredictability on the ball.
A Santos/Baleba partnership could function well, particularly in high-profile matches where United are more likely to sit deeper and exploit space on the counter. For the most part, however, other combinations will be preferred, and Baleba could well cut into Santos' playing time.
Chelsea
Are Brighton & Hove Albion betraying their loyalties by selling to a Premier League club other than Chelsea? The Blues must be seething right now, with frustration surely running high across West London.
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Chelsea fans have long believed that Brighton exist primarily as a feeder club for Stamford Bridge. Sixteen players have made the move to Chelsea since BlueCo took over, including veteran forward Danny Welbeck, who completed his transfer at the beginning of August.
In all seriousness, one has to wonder whether Chelsea might have explored a familiar avenue had Enzo Fernández departed for Manchester City. Unable to depend on the perpetually injury-prone Roméo Lavia, the Blues would surely have sought a replacement, and Baleba — though a very different profile to the Argentine — could have been a late-window target.
Instead, Brighton have done business with a rival. A long-standing special relationship may have just been shattered.