​Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos in a deal valued at £50 million ($67.09 million), with manager Michael Carrick poised to secure his first official acquisition since stepping into the role. The Manchester Evening News reports that Santos is prepared to move to Old Trafford on a permanent basis after United and Chelsea made substantial progress in negotiations over the past two days. United will pay £48 million ($64.4 million) upfront, plus £2 million ($2.68 million) in potential add-ons, while personal terms with the player have already been finalized. The deal also includes a 10 percent sell-on clause, ensuring Chelsea will receive a portion of any future transfer fee if Santos is sold again.
As Carrick looks to implement his plans for a strengthened midfield, Santos appears set to join Ederson in a dual-midfield pairing at United, following the midfielder’s move from Atalanta after their World Cup campaign concluded. It remains to be seen whether Santos’ arrival will influence United’s pursuit of Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni, but the focus now is on finalizing Santos’s switch to Old Trafford.
Santos has received medical clearance to travel to Manchester for the routine checks ahead of his move, and the 22-year-old is on the cusp of completing his transfer to United. He is the first player to join under Todd Boehly’s era at Chelsea and is expected to help fill the gap left by Casemiro after the Brazilian’s contract expired on June 30. Last season, Santos featured as a rotation option under Enzo Maresca and then Liam Rosenior, making 42 appearances for Chelsea. This marked his first full campaign in English football after time on loan with Nottingham Forest and RC Strasbourg, during which he gained valuable experience across different leagues.
In late June, Santos was named in Carlo Ancelotti’s preliminary 55-man Brazil squad for the World Cup, though he did not make the final 26-man cut. The absence of a place in the final squad did not diminish his standing, and Ederson was brought in as an emergency replacement following an injury to Wesley so close to the tournament’s start. After a short breather ahead of pre-season, Santos will provide Carrick with a timely boost as the interim manager looks to strengthen the squad further before pre-season friendlies in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Ireland.
With Santos set to complete his move to Manchester United, Carrick’s task is clear: integrate a dynamic, young midfielder who can contribute both defensively and offensively, and help United compete at the highest level once again. The deal underscores United’s intent to reinforce the squad depth and quality ahead of a demanding campaign, as they prepare to challenge for top-four finishes and push for major trophies in domestic and European competitions. The addition of Santos could also influence tactical plans, potentially enabling Carrick to deploy a more flexible midfield setup, with the Brazilian providing tenacity, pace, and creative distribution to support the club’s ambitions. As the transfer saga nears its conclusion, United fans will be eagerly awaiting Santos’s medical, his official unveiling, and his readiness to make an immediate impact in Carrick’s evolving system.