Manchester United confirmed on 25 August that they had signed the 22-year-old for £65m guaranteed plus £5m in add-ons, tying him to a five-year deal with the option of a further year.
Baleba becomes the club’s third midfield signing of the window, joining Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, and filling the space left by Casemiro’s move to Inter Miami.
“It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams,” Baleba said.
“Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour.”
Read also: Ross Wilson on Howe succession: "Part of the plan"
Director of football Jason Wilcox called him “an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further”.
Ferdinand praises United’s restraint
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand backed the deal on his YouTube channel, arguing the price reflected discipline in a market where Manchester City had been willing to go higher.
“Man United just didn’t go, ‘Oh, we don’t want him. We don’t fancy him.’ They couldn’t go to a certain number that City obviously could because they couldn’t blow their budget,” Ferdinand said.
He noted Baleba had been “earmarked as a 100 million pound player two seasons ago” and put him alongside Andrey Santos as midfielders offering potential with Premier League experience already banked.
Read also: Here is the favorite between Alexa Grasso and Manon Fiorot
Scholes questions Brighton form
Paul Scholes was more cautious. Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast on 8 September, the former United midfielder pointed to Baleba’s most recent season at Brighton as a warning sign.
“I don’t think it’s a guaranteed hit, but I don’t think he had a great season last year,” Scholes said.
He still tipped Baleba to work out in the end. Fellow treble-winner Nicky Butt, on the same podcast, was firmer.
“I just think he’s what’s needed in midfield for Man Utd. Bit of physicality,” Butt said.
Read also: Every 2026 Ballon d’Or nominee ranked from worst to best
Ankle injury delays the debut
Baleba is unlikely to feature straight away for head coach Michael Carrick. He picked up an ankle problem in pre-season and Sky Sports reports his return is targeted for around mid-September.
In his first interview as a United player, he described Carrick as “the perfect coach”.
Baleba arrived at Brighton from Lille in 2023 and made more than 100 Premier League appearances on the south coast before the switch, earning 16 caps for Cameroon along the way.
Read also: Viking's Champions League bow lands on the day Norway buries King Harald
Read also: Ted Cruz has scripted the ending for Trump
