Andrey Santos: Man Utd complete £50m signing of Brazil international midfielder from Chelsea

Man Utd have completed the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m.

The agreement is broken up into a guaranteed £48m payment plus £2m in add-ons. Chelsea will also retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause.

The 22-year-old Brazil international faced a battle for regular game time in 2026/27, given Chelsea will not participate in European competition.

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His long-term pursuit of becoming a first-team starter at the club was further hindered by Moises Caicedo extending his contract until 2033 earlier this year.

However, he now becomes the first permanent signing under Michael Carrick as head coach at Old Trafford. The announcement comes on the same day that Sky Sports News reported that United are advancing in talks to sign Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £36m.

United are also not ruling out signing Ederson this summer despite a breakdown in the deal over a medical issue. It remains possible they return for him before the window is over, depending on how the market develops. But Sky Sports News can confirm Santos has not been signed as an alternative to Ederson.

Speaking to United after completing the move, Santos said: "Everything about Manchester United is special; it is an incredible feeling to join a club that some of my biggest idols have represented.

"As a midfielder, I am really excited to have the opportunity to learn from Michael Carrick; he is the perfect coach to help me take the next step in my career and push to achieve my dreams.

"Everybody told me about how ambitious the club is and the amazing environment that has been created here. I know just 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, added: "Andrey is an outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch.

"He was a key target for us in an important position, so we are delighted that he will join Michael's squad so early in pre-season."

Santos joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in 2023 and spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg.

Those at United are understood to believe the player has a great personality that is going to fit in well with the rest of the squad.

Santos is ambitious to become one of the best players in the world. Although he did not make the final Brazil squad for the World Cup, the Brazilian Federation (CBF) believes he is one of their most exciting prospects.

United recruitment chief Christopher Vivell knows the player well and assisted in signing him for Chelsea when he was at the club. Santos is primarily a more defensive, combative midfielder, but he can also play in a more advanced role as well as from deep. United have been looking for midfielders who can play through the lines and believe Santos has shown an ability to do that.

Last season at Chelsea, the Blues went on their best run of eight straight wins with Santos in midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo.

Santos featured in 43 matches for Chelsea in all competitions last season, scoring three goals and contributing four assists.

What are Man Utd's plans in midfield?

Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth:

"We could even see Manchester United trying to sign three midfielders in this transfer window. So that has been the priority from minute one of this transfer window.

"Even before the transfer window opened, because we knew that Casemiro was going to be leaving Manchester United, there's the added complication that Manuel Ugarte has got a serious knee injury that he suffered during the World Cup with Uruguay.

"I think Manchester United might have been prepared to listen to offers for someone like Ugarte to free up some squad space, some wage space, and some transfer fee money to come into the club to be able to to fund other midfield moves.

"But it's clear that Ugarte isn't going anywhere at the moment, and it's clear he's not going to be playing for Manchester United, having that serious knee injury. So United are in the market for two, maybe even three, midfielders; Youri Tielemans looks like he could be one of them.

"The other midfielders we need to keep an eye on for United. Aurelien Tchouameni was a big target of theirs throughout this window, but it looks like Jose Mourinho wants to keep him at Real Madrid, and he's expected to sign a new contract.

"The other names in the frame, moving higher up the list, are Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. There's a big interest there from Manchester United.

"Whether Bournemouth would want to do business in this transfer window over one of their prized assets - that's another question. Sander Berge is another player from Fulham who United have had an historic interest in, and maybe another player who is on that list, Ayyoub Bouaddi.

"We've all seen how he performed for Morocco during the World Cup. He's another name that has been mentioned, and Felix Metcher from Borussia Dortmund.

"Again, a long-term admiration for Manchester United has been held. Maybe one of those, or maybe, as we've seen with Youri Tielemans, there'll be another name that comes out from nowhere, and Manchester United will try and pursue."

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