Manchester United are set to complete the signing of midfielder Carlos Baleba after reaching an agreement with Brighton.
The Cameroon international joined the Seagulls as Moises Caicedo's successor in the 2023 summer transfer window, impressing from the off on the south coast with his glaring athleticism and elite ball-carrying ability.
United's interest in the 22-year-old dates back to the summer of 2025, and while they were reluctant to meet Brighton's asking price 12 months ago, they are set to complete the deal for a reduced £70m fee after the midfielder endured an underwhelming 2025/26 campaign.
Baleba will not be available for selection in the early stages of his Red Devils career however, with the player currently nursing an ankle injury sustained in Brighton's 4-3 victory over Strasbourg in pre-season earlier this month.
We've taken a look at the earliest possible date that Baleba could return to first-team action.
When is Carlos Baleba expected to return from injury?
Reports suggest that Baleba is set to be sidelined until mid-September with an ankle ligament injury.
This could see him make his United debut against rivals Manchester City on 13th September at Old Trafford or against Fulham on 20th September at Craven Cottage.
Should Baleba fail to return to fitness for the Red Devils' final two September fixtures, he will have to wait until after the three-week international break for his first appearance.
This would likely see him feature when Michael Carrick's side welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford on 10th October, their first game back following the three-week hiatus.
The availability of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Kobbie Mainoo means that Carrick will not rush the midfielder back, but his physical presence in the engine room will certainly aid the team in a fixture-heavy season.
How can an injured player pass their medical?
