Manchester United have completed the signing of Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos for a fee of around £50 million, according to TEAMtalk. The 23-year-old becomes United’s second major midfield addition of the summer, following the imminent arrival of Ederson from Atalanta.
The transfer was reportedly challenging, with Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and Manchester City all making enquiries about Santos prior to United securing an agreement with Chelsea. Manchester City’s interest arose during negotiations with Chelsea regarding compensation for Enzo Maresca’s move to the Etihad Stadium, with Maresca reportedly open to a reunion with Santos, though a deal did not materialise.
Villa were also considering Santos as a replacement for Amadou Onana, who suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury while on international duty with Belgium. Newcastle United, meanwhile, viewed Santos as a potential replacement for Sandro Tonali, who departed for Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur themselves had also previously enquired about the Brazilian before focusing on other targets.
Despite interest from the Saudi Pro League, Santos was reportedly swayed by Manchester United’s project and the opportunity to become a key figure in their midfield rebuild. The club’s vision for his role proved decisive in his decision-making process.
The combined outlay for Santos and Ederson is less than £90 million, leaving United with remaining budget to pursue further reinforcements. Officials are reportedly focusing on a third central midfielder, as well as a versatile forward and a left-back, as they continue to reshape the squad for the upcoming campaign. This acquisition strengthens United’s midfield options and signals a clear intent to build a competitive squad.
