Carlos Baleba may wait until after international break for Man Utd debut
October 9, 2026 10:00
Carlos Baleba, Manchester United’s £70m summer signing, could have to wait until after the international break to make his debut because United knew he had an ankle injury when they completed the transfer from Brighton on 25 August. The midfielder has signed a five-year contract with the club.
The 22-year-old was named on the bench for the 1-1 draw at Fulham on 20 September and played in a closed-doors game against Lausanne-Sports on 2 October, but United say a return to full availability may come only after the break.
KEY CONTEXT
United’s difficult start to the season has increased attention on Baleba. The club sat 12th in the Premier League with one win and five points from their opening five games, and were eliminated from the EFL Cup after Brighton came from 2-0 down at Old Trafford.
An insider’s early assessment highlighted Baleba’s pace: “Very quick,” and “He covers the ground really well.” That athletic profile is seen as a potential asset for a holding-midfield role Michael Carrick has struggled to fill since Casemiro left in May. United are also one of only four top-flight teams yet to keep a clean sheet and have conceded twice in four of their seven games in all competitions.
TRAINING, RELATIONSHIPS AND BACKGROUND
Sources describe an initial shyness and nervousness that appears to be easing. Baleba is not yet a confident English speaker but has improved since his move from Lille to Brighton for £23.2m in 2023. He has formed a friendship with Amad Diallo; a social-media clip showed Amad laughing after Baleba poked fun at him following Cameroon’s friendly win over Ivory Coast on 3 October.
Baleba was a team-mate of Leny Yoro at Lille and of Bryan Mbeumo at international level. There are also anecdotes of him joking with Patrick Dorgu after the final game of last season at the Amex Stadium.
RECRUITMENT NOTE
United’s recruitment and data work had Baleba on their list for some time. After missing out on Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, and with other options judged unsuitable, the club moved for Baleba just before their opening-day defeat at Hull and completed the deal shortly afterwards. Brighton sources dismissed suggestions Baleba’s form dipped because late interest from United had turned his head; no alternative reason for the dip was offered.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
If the ankle requires further recovery time, Baleba’s competitive debut could come after the international break. United’s immediate schedule, as noted by the club, includes a home visit by rock-bottom Tottenham followed by three away fixtures in a row, with Champions League trips to Atletico Madrid and Como either side of a journey to Leeds.