Manchester United have completed the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea.United have recruited the 22-year-old in a deal worth £48million plus £2m in easily achievable bonuses, with Chelsea retaining a 10 per cent sell-on clause.Earlier on Monday, The Athletic reported United are also set to finalise a deal for Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa due to the midfielder’s £35million release clause.“To be honest, since I was young, I dreamed of this moment,” Santos said upon his arrival.
Dreams do come true.@04Andrey is proof of that 🔏 pic.twitter.com/2ZiSP7y9ai
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 13, 2026“The history and the responsibility that comes with that, that’s why I am here. I cannot wait to play in front of these fans, alongside this team and help create new memories.“I am here to bring energy, to compete, to win the ball, drive the team forward, and give everything for this club. Now, I am going to make my name in the history of this big, big club.”Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, said: “Andrey is an outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch.”He added: “Despite already having extensive experience, leadership abilities and proving his talent at the highest level, Andrey still has enormous potential to develop further, and we cannot wait to see him flourish at Manchester United.”Santos is capable of playing at a No. 6 or No. 8, and had been subject of enquiries from multiple suitors. The Brazil international started 13 of Chelsea’s 38 Premier League matches last season.Santos joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in January 2023. He had a short loan spell with Nottingham Forest before spending 18 months on loan at Strasbourg in Ligue 1.United have prioritised strengthening in midfield this summer after the departure of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte suffering knee ligament damage while playing for Uruguay at the World Cup.Alongside the signing of Santos and the pursuit of Tielemans, United are also close to completing a deal to sign goalkeeper Karl Darlow as a free agent following his exit from Leeds United.A long-term United target as midfield rebuild continuesAnalysis by Manchester United correspondent Mark CritchleyAfter missing out on Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur, following United’s reluctance to pay a fixed £85m fee, it is understandable that United would look to another young, talented midfielder with Premier League experience as an alternative.Santos fits the bill, in that respect, and bears some similarities to Fernandes in playing style. Both are adept progressive passers, able to move the ball from one end of the pitch through midfield, and more than capable of consistently winning their duels out of possession.At 22, he has room to develop, and interest from Old Trafford is nothing new. United’s recruitment department ran the rule over Santos last summer.United still lack experience in the middle of the park and, in that sense, he will not fully replace Casemiro, who was a hugely influential presence on the way to last season’s third-place Premier League finish.United’s intention has been to sign as many as three midfielders this summer, and they are now set to finalise a deal for Villa’s Tielemans, whose contract includes a £35m release clause. Adding both Santos and the Belgium international could still leave room for another reinforcement.Does sale make sense for Chelsea?Analysis by Chelsea correspondent Simon JohnsonChelsea had rejected approaches for the midfielder before but it is telling that he was no longer on the ‘not for sale’ list this window.The sale can obviously be reinvested into other signings and they have shown with their pursuit of Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka that the midfield is an area they are prepared to recruit in.Despite being rated within the club, there was a big question mark over whether Santos would be more of a first-team regular in the campaign to come. Moises Caicedo is one of the key players employed in front of the backline, while Real Madrid have announced they are not going to make an attempt to acquire Enzo Fernandez.The Athletic has also reported that Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo are expected to stay, but selling Santos to a domestic rival may raise eyebrows among sections of the fanbase.Jul 13, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
