Manchester United has reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Andrey Santos for £50 million, with an official announcement expected on Thursday. Ederson will also undergo a medical as the club looks to secure its first signing of the summer.

Reports from renowned outlets such as The Athletic's David Ornstein, the BBC's Simon Stone, and Fabrizio Romano confirm that Manchester United and Chelsea have struck an agreement for Andrey Santos. United acted quickly, turning initial interest from the weekend into a fast-paced negotiation over the past several hours.

United will pay a fixed fee of £48 million, plus an additional £2 million in easily achievable add-ons. Chelsea will also receive a 10% sell-on clause. The 22-year-old Santos has been given permission by Chelsea to travel to Manchester for a medical, and he has already agreed personal terms with United, becoming the potential first signing under manager Michael Carrick.

On Wednesday evening, Romano announced in his signature style: "Santos to Manchester United, here we go! The deal is done. The Brazilian midfielder is scheduled for a medical within 24 hours. United will pay £50 million, meeting Chelsea's asking price, plus a 10% sell-on clause. Santos will sign a contract until 2031, with the signing taking place tomorrow."

Santos' existing contract with Chelsea was set to run until 2030. He attracted interest from several clubs, and United had been quietly monitoring him. Chelsea highly value the Brazilian international, but he wants a guaranteed starting spot. With the departure of his former coach Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, Santos' opportunities have diminished.

Moreover, Moisés Caicedo signed a new contract with Chelsea in April until 2033, making it even harder for Santos to secure a regular place at Stamford Bridge. This prompted his decision to leave.

Romano revealed that United had two meetings with Santos' agent, Giuliano Bertolucci, in February and March. Santos formally requested a transfer from Chelsea to join United, believing it to be the perfect move for his career development.

Santos joined Chelsea from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama in January 2023. In the 2023/24 season, he was initially loaned to Nottingham Forest, making only two appearances. He was then sent to Strasbourg in Ligue 1, where he scored 12 goals and provided 5 assists in 45 appearances, proving his quality.

During the 2025/26 season, Santos returned to Chelsea and made 43 appearances across all competitions, contributing 3 goals and 4 assists. Capable of playing as a No. 8 or a box-to-box midfielder, he has earned 6 caps for Brazil but was not included in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad.

United's top priority this summer is strengthening the midfield, especially after Casemiro's contract expired on July 1 and he officially left the club. Meanwhile, Manuel Ugarte suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Uruguay in the World Cup, ruling him out for the entire next season.

Over the past month, United has faced repeated setbacks in attempted signings. Elliot Anderson moved to Manchester City for £116 million, Matheus Fernandes joined Tottenham for £85 million, and Sandro Tonali also went to Spurs for £100 million. Bournemouth refused to sell Alex Scott, and Aurélien Tchouaméni is likely to renew his contract with Real Madrid.

United had already reached an agreement with Atalanta to sign 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder Ederson for a fixed fee of €40.5 million (£35 million), plus €4.5 million (£4 million) in add-ons. The transfer was subject to a medical, but some issues appear to have arisen.

Accordingly, United quickly pivoted to a young midfielder with Premier League experience and talent. Santos also fits the age profile set by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and scouts have been monitoring him since last year, believing he still has significant development potential. Santos' style is similar to that of Matheus Fernandes—he can carry the ball and pass in possession, while also pressing and competing for the ball out of possession.

Crucially, Chelsea was willing to sell, and the price was reasonable. Santos is not on Xabi Alonso's "untouchable" list; he was merely a squad player last season, making 43 appearances but only 25 starts—just 13 in the Premier League. Caicedo has already extended his contract, Real Madrid announced they will not sign Enzo Fernández, and Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo are expected to stay, so selling Santos has little impact on the Blues.

Chelsea plans to sign Sunderland veteran Granit Xhaka as a replacement for Santos. Selling midfielders to United is not unprecedented for Chelsea—Nemanja Matić and Mason Mount both preceded Santos. After Marc Cucurella was sold to Real Madrid and Tyrique George moved to Everton, Santos will become the third important player to leave Chelsea this summer. The Blues will make a substantial profit, having signed Santos from Vasco da Gama for just £16 million.

From United's perspective, Santos is by no means a direct replacement for Casemiro. He lacks experience and cannot be the crucial midfield heavyweight signing in the rebuild plan. Santos will be one of three midfield signings brought in this summer, serving as a rotation player.

According to the BBC, Ederson will also travel with Santos to Carrington for medicals. Meanwhile, United's non-World Cup players will return to training. Santos can immediately join Michael Carrick's squad, while Ederson, if he passes his medical, will need to wait until his mandatory three-week post-World Cup break ends before officially joining.