​Manchester United have reportedly agreed a £50 million package to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, with the 22-year-old Brazilian set to undergo a medical after terms were finalized. The proposed deal could reach £50m including add-ons, with United set to pay Chelsea an initial £48m and a potential £2m in achievable incentives. Chelsea would also retain a 10% sell-on clause as part of the agreement. The Athletic has indicated that Santos has already agreed personal terms, and the transfer will be completed once the medical is successfully completed.
If the move goes through, Santos would become the second signing of Manchester United’s ongoing midfield overhaul. The club has also agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta for around £35m, and is now targeting Santos, who is widely regarded as a talented central midfielder. The 27-year-old Brazilian international would link up with his compatriot under the Red Devils’ plans to reinforce the engine room of the squad.
Santos’s path to this moment has included a stretch of limited playing time at Chelsea last season, largely due to the competition for midfield places with Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo. In 2025/26, he made 13 Premier League starts for Chelsea and has earned eight caps for Brazil to date. Before his stint in London, Santos shone during a productive loan spell with Strasbourg in Ligue 1, where he contributed ten goals from central midfield, showcasing his ability to influence games with both assists and goals from the middle of the park.
Manchester United’s interest in Santos comes in the wake of other deals that could not be completed. The club had previously pursued Mateus Fernandes and Elliot Anderson as potential midfield reinforcements, but Fernandes’ move to Tottenham Hotspur from West Ham for £85 million and Anderson’s decision to join Manchester City for a record English-fee of £116 million shifted United’s approach. In response, the club’s recruitment strategy has centered on strengthening the midfield core, particularly after Casemiro’s departure from Old Trafford.
The recruitment drive at United has been spearheaded by Michael Carrick, who has prioritized midfield additions this summer to rebuild the squad’s spine. The club’s plans were affected by Manuel Ugarte’s unfortunate knee ligament injury while representing Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup, which affected initial timelines for adding another top-level midfielder. Nevertheless, United remain committed to bolstering their options in the middle of the park, with Santos positioned as a potential key piece in their plans to compete at the highest level in the Premier League and in European competition.
As negotiations progress toward a medical and formal confirmation, fans and analysts alike are weighing the potential impact of Santos’s arrival. If completed, the deal would mark a significant step in United’s stated goal of rejuvenating the midfield with young, dynamic operators capable of controlling tempo, distributing effectively, and contributing both offensively and defensively. The combination of Santos’s ball-playing abilities, Ligue 1 form, and his international experience with Brazil could offer United a versatile option in the centre of the pitch, complementing Ederson’s addition and the broader tactical framework the manager is aiming to implement this season.