Manchester United completes £50 million signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos

Manchester United announced the acquisition of 22‑year‑old Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea on 13 July 2026. The deal is reported to be worth around £48‑50 million plus performance‑related bonuses, with Chelsea retaining a 10 % sell‑on clause. Santos signed a five‑year contract with an optional sixth year, binding him to the club until June 2031.

The transfer fills the midfield vacancy left by the departure of Casemiro and comes after teammate Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious knee injury. United’s director of football Jason Wilcox praised Santos as an “exceptional midfielder” with strong technical qualities and the potential to impact the game at both ends of the pitch. Manager Michael Carrick said the player will help the team “take the next step” in his career.

Santos, who made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season and was part of their 2025 Club World Cup‑winning squad, was not selected for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad. He expressed excitement about joining United, stating, “Everything about Manchester United is special… I cannot wait to fight together to compete for the biggest trophies.”