Man Utd sign Baleba for £70m; Man City secure Bouaddi for £85.6m

Manchester United has bolstered its midfield with the signing of Cameroon international Carlos Baleba from Brighton for a reported £70 million. The deal includes an initial £65 million fee, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons. Brighton has also secured a sell-on clause for the 22-year-old midfielder.

United's pursuit of Baleba intensified after strengthening their midfield with the summer acquisitions of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Baleba, who joined Brighton from Lille in 2023, has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with an option for a further year. The club had previously shown interest last year but was deterred by Brighton's valuation exceeding £100 million. Baleba is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during pre-season training.

Meanwhile, Manchester City has also made a significant midfield acquisition, signing 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi on a five-year contract, pending international clearance. The deal is worth £81.4 million upfront, with an additional £4.2 million in add-ons. This move comes as City has offloaded central midfielders Rodri to Barcelona for £65 million and Tijjani Reinders to Al-Qadsiah for £52 million.

Bouaddi impressed at the recent World Cup, featuring in five of Morocco's six matches during their quarter-final run. He was also a key player for Lille, making 96 appearances and helping them finish third in Ligue 1 last season. At 16, he became Lille's youngest player and notably played a starring role in their Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024.

City's midfield revamp also includes the signing of England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. These moves signal a significant reshuffling of midfield talent in Manchester, with both clubs investing heavily in new talent while recouping substantial fees from player sales.