At the start of June, Manchester United agreed a £35 million fee with Atalanta for Brazilian midfielder Ederson. By mid-July, the deal was reportedly off after a medical revealed a knee issue. Ederson had even said during the World Cup that the transfer was 'practically all sorted'. Then the complications began.
In football, a transfer isn't complete until the player signs a contract and passes a medical. United agreed the fee for Ederson on 2 June, but the player then received a late call-up to Brazil's World Cup squad. His medical was postponed. When Brazil were eliminated by Norway, United scheduled a closer look. Reports then emerged that medical tests showed a problem. One source told BBC Sport the deal was off, though both clubs denied a final decision had been made. The Mirror reported that a knee injury put the transfer at risk.
“Why football transfers collapse, using Ederson's failed Man Utd move as an example.”
This kind of collapse is common in football. Transfers can fall apart for many reasons: failed medicals, last-minute changes in price, or a club changing its priorities. In United's case, their midfield rebuild has been fraught with setbacks. They lost out on Elliot Anderson when his fee rose above £110 million. Mateus Fernandes chose Tottenham instead of United when West Ham's asking price was £85 million. Meanwhile, Manuel Ugarte was set to be sold but suffered cruciate knee ligament damage.
For UK fans, a collapsed transfer can be both frustrating and confusing. The gap between a club announcing an 'agreement' and the player actually signing can stretch for weeks. Medicals are a key hurdle—they can uncover hidden injuries that make a club walk away. Clubs also negotiate add-ons and sell-on clauses. For example, United's separate deal for Chelsea's Andrey Santos was for £48 million plus £2 million in achievable add-ons, with a 10% sell-on clause. Santos, 22, has Premier League experience from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
The Ederson saga also highlights how the World Cup can disrupt the transfer window. Players who perform well can attract new interest, but tournaments also delay medicals and paperwork. For United, the delay meant Ederson's medical was squeezed between Brazil's World Cup run and pre-season. Kobbie Mainoo was still at the World Cup with England, leaving Mason Mount as the only recognised senior midfielder in Michael Carrick's squad for the opening pre-season match.
Q: What is a transfer medical? A medical is a routine physical examination carried out by the buying club's doctors. It checks for injuries, underlying conditions, and overall fitness. If a problem is found the club may pull out, renegotiate terms, or ask for further tests.
Q: What happens when a transfer collapses? The player returns to his current club. The selling club may seek other buyers or keep the player. The buying club then looks for alternatives. In this case, United agreed a deal for Santos while Ederson's future remained uncertain.
Q: How do clubs cope with losing multiple targets? Clubs often have a list of targets ranked by priority. When one falls through, they move to the next name. United's recruitment team expressed calm after missing Fernandes, insisting players would be bought. They then turned to Santos, who had 28 Premier League appearances and fits their need for energy in midfield.
What happens next? United have agreed a £50 million deal for Andrey Santos, who has been cleared for a medical. Karl Darlow, a goalkeeper, is also close to joining from Leeds. But with Mainoo at the World Cup and Ugarte injured, Carrick's midfield options remain thin until Santos signs and Mainoo returns. The Ederson deal is officially 'in doubt' until both clubs confirm otherwise. If it collapses, United will likely explore other targets before the window closes.