TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Manchester United have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos in a deal worth up to £50 million (US$66.98 million), strengthening a key area of the squad ahead of the new season.
ESPN reported that United will pay an initial fee of £48 million (US$64 million) for the 22-year-old, with a further £2 million tied to performance-related add-ons. Personal terms have already been agreed, and Chelsea have granted Santos permission to undergo a medical before completing the transfer.
The move comes after United missed out on Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who opted to join Tottenham Hotspur from West Ham United in an £85 million deal.
BBC Sport noted that Chelsea have also secured a 10 percent sell-on clause as part of the agreement. Negotiations accelerated rapidly after United formally expressed their interest over the weekend.
Santos is expected to undergo his medical alongside fellow Brazilian midfielder Éderson, who is close to completing a £35 million move from Italian club Atalanta after Brazil's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
United identified central midfield as a priority position during the summer transfer window following Casemiro's departure at the end of his contract. The need became even more pressing after Manuel Ugarte suffered a cruciate ligament injury that is expected to keep the Uruguay international sidelined for an extended period.
The club also explored moves for Elliot Anderson, but Nottingham Forest's valuation of more than £110 million ended their interest. United then shifted their focus to Mateus Fernandes before Tottenham secured the midfielder's signature.
With England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo still away at the World Cup, United faced the prospect of beginning their pre-season campaign against Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18 with Mason Mount as Michael Carrick's only recognized senior central midfielder.
Santos' arrival is expected to provide an immediate boost to United's midfield options ahead of the new campaign.
For Chelsea, the Brazilian's departure marks another significant sale this summer after Marc Cucurella joined Real Madrid and academy graduate Tyrique George moved to Everton.
Chelsea had long regarded Santos as one of the club's brightest young prospects, but he found regular first-team opportunities limited behind the established midfield pairing of Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo.
Sources close to the player indicated that Santos was eager to secure consistent playing time rather than remain a squad player after spending last season developing within Chelsea's first-team setup.
The London club also stands to make a substantial profit, having signed Santos from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama for around £16 million in 2023.
Chelsea's decision to sanction the transfer has prompted questions among some supporters over why other midfielders, including Roméo Lavia or Dário Essugo, were not sold instead. However, neither player is currently considered available after injury-disrupted campaigns.
The sale also reflects Chelsea's broader financial strategy following a season without European competition, with player departures forming an important part of the club's efforts to balance its books while reshaping the squad ahead of the new campaign.
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