Manchester United have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos in a deal worth up to £50 million, strengthening their midfield ahead of the new season.
The agreement will see United pay an initial £48 million, with an additional £2 million in performance-related bonuses. Chelsea will also retain a 10 percent sell-on clause as part of the transfer.
The deal moved quickly after United stepped up their interest over the weekend, and Santos is now expected to undergo a medical before completing the move.
The 22-year-old midfielder arrives as United look to rebuild their midfield following the departure of Casemiro at the end of his contract and the long-term injury suffered by Manuel Ugarte. The club had also explored moves for Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, but both deals failed to materialise.
Santos has already made 28 Premier League appearances, including a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, and is viewed as a talented young midfielder with significant room for development.
Meanwhile, fellow Brazilian midfielder Ederson is also expected to complete a £35 million move from Atalanta, with his medical reportedly scheduled after Brazil’s exit from the FIFA World Cup.
For Chelsea, Santos becomes one of the club’s major departures this summer as the Blues continue reshaping their squad under new manager Xabi Alonso, with the midfield expected to be built around Moisés Caicedo and possibly Enzo Fernández.
The signing is expected to provide United with much-needed depth as they prepare for the new campaign, with their pre-season opener against Wrexham scheduled for July 18.
Source: Club reports
