​Manchester United have sealed a £48million deal to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea, marking the first major signing of their summer window under manager Michael Carrick. The 19-year-old Brazilian midfielder has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, finalising the move after United previously reached an agreement with Chelsea and completed his formalities. Santos becomes the first arrival of Carrick’s plans to overhaul United’s midfield, a project designed to inject youthful energy and technical quality into the engine room.
Concurrently, United are closing in on a surprising late swoop for Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans, with the Belgium captain expected to join for around £35million as a replacement for the midfielder slot that has become a concern for Unai Emery following a number of injuries and tactical shifts. The move would see Tielemans become United’s second major signing of the summer, following Santos’s arrival, and would add experience and a goal threat from midfield to complement the new arrival’s more youthful drive.
Tielemans’s potential transfer comes after United’s initial plan to sign Ederson from Atalanta reached an impasse. United had previously agreed a £35m fee with Atalanta and had planned to conduct a medical in July, with Ederson subsequently succeeding in earning a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad. A medical in the United States was arranged, but ensuing issues emerged. After Brazil’s campaign concluded, United completed a full medical assessment in Europe, but ultimately decided not to push ahead at the existing price and terms.
While United remain sympathetic toward Ederson and have not ruled out revisiting a deal in the future, their attention has shifted to Tielemans, who enjoyed a standout 2024-25 season at Villa and fired a goal in their Europa League triumph over Freiburg in May. Tielemans’s potential departure would deliver a significant profit for Villa, who signed the 29-year-old on a free transfer from Leicester three years ago amid ongoing questions around their PSR compliance. His exit would, however, present Emery with further midfield challenges at a time when Amadou Onana’s cruciate ligament injury during Belgium’s World Cup run has compounded concerns in the middle of the park.
Villa, for their part, remain in the market and are expected to complete a move for Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, who had appeared bound for Newcastle prior to United’s efforts to intercept. The transfer activity at both clubs signals a busy summer ahead, with United intent on reshaping their midfield to compete for honours on multiple fronts.
United’s stance on Ederson remains open to future dialogue, should circumstances change, but at present the focus is firmly on Tielemans and Santos. Santos spoke warmly about joining a club with a storied history and global reach, saying the opportunity to work with one of United’s most decorated midfielders, Michael Carrick, was a major draw. He described United as a club that holds immense appeal and added that the chance to learn from Carrick would help him take the next step in his development and enable him to pursue his dreams at the highest level.
“I’ve heard so much about Manchester United’s ambition and the incredible environment that has been created here,” Santos said. “I know how strong the squad is, and I cannot wait to fight together to compete for the biggest trophies.”
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, praised Santos as an outstanding midfielder with a high level of technical quality and the ability to impact the game across the pitch. The club’s hierarchy believes the addition of Santos will bolster United’s midfield balance, providing a blend of creativity, energy and industrious work rate that can drive the team forward in domestic and European competition.