By: Roland James | Columnist | WBN NEWS Africa | August 26, 2026

Manchester United’s summer transfer window has taken another significant step forward, with Carlos Baleba now officially joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Cameroon international completed his move to Old Trafford on August 25, signing a contract until 2031 with an option for a further year. His arrival completes a major midfield rebuild that also includes Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, while goalkeeper Karl Darlow has added experience between the posts.

Baleba’s signing is particularly important for manager Michael Carrick. The 22-year-old brings energy, physical strength, ball-winning ability and Premier League experience to a midfield that has been undergoing significant change following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s injury.

United’s midfield spending on Baleba, Tielemans and Santos is now close to £150 million, underlining the club’s determination to build a stronger and more competitive squad.

The excitement surrounding Baleba is also reflected in his own words. “It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams,” he said after completing the move. “Playing at Old Trafford is always special.”

Those words capture what Manchester United still represents to players and supporters: ambition, history and the belief that better days can return.

But the big question remains: is the squad ready?

There are still areas where United could benefit from additional strength. Recent assessments have identified left-back as a particular concern, while further attacking depth could also become important depending on departures before the window closes.

For now, however, the direction is clear. United are not simply adding names; they are attempting to build a team capable of restoring competitiveness and giving supporters renewed belief.

The journey will not be easy, and one transfer window cannot solve every problem. But with Baleba, Tielemans and Santos forming a new midfield core, Manchester United have given themselves another reason to look forward with hope.

For a club built on resilience and generations of passion, the rebuild is about more than transfers. It is about restoring belief, creating memories and giving millions of supporters something meaningful to believe in again.

Editor: Joseph James Udoh

WBN Global News Desk
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