Manchester United are in the midst of a midfield overhaul that has already seen them spend £48m on Brazil international Andrey Santos and close in on a £35m deal for Belgium captain Youri Tielemans. The moves come after last season's departure of Casemiro and a failed attempt to sign Atalanta's Ederson, whose medical flagged an injury issue.
The basics are straightforward: Santos, a 22-year-old midfielder, has joined from Chelsea on a contract running to June 2031, with an option for a further year. United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, described him as "an outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities" who can impact the game at both ends. Tielemans, 29, is set to join from Aston Villa after advanced talks triggered his release clause. The Belgian has 90 caps, captained his country at the 2026 World Cup, and brings considerable Premier League experience from spells at Leicester and Villa.
“Manchester United's summer rebuild explained: why they signed Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.”
To understand why United are acting now, you need to look at their midfield situation. Casemiro left at the end of last season, and Manuel Ugarte is considered a squad player at best. Manager Michael Carrick, a former England midfielder himself, is rebuilding the engine room. The plan was to sign both Santos and Ederson, but the Ederson deal collapsed after a medical issue, accelerating interest in Tielemans. The Belgian's age (29) means he has little resale value, marking a shift in United's transfer policy, but his experience and leadership are seen as immediate assets.
For UK readers, especially Premier League fans, this matters because it reshapes a key area for one of England's biggest clubs. Santos, who made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season and won the Club World Cup in 2025, adds youth and potential. Tielemans, a familiar face to English audiences, adds proven quality. If both deals go through, United's midfield depth improves significantly. For Aston Villa fans, Tielemans' exit would be a notable loss, especially with teammate Amadou Onana sidelined by an ACL injury. Villa have already lined up a £49m replacement in Switzerland's Johan Manzambi from Freiburg.
Q: Why did Manchester United sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea? Santos was a key target to strengthen midfield after Casemiro left and the Ederson deal fell through. United see him as a player with high technical quality and room to grow, having already performed at a high level for Chelsea.
Q: How much are Manchester United paying for Youri Tielemans? Tielemans has a £35m release clause in his Aston Villa contract, which has two years remaining. United are in advanced talks and expected to pay that figure.
Q: Why did United's move for Ederson collapse? Atalanta's Ederson was set to join for £35m, but a medical highlighted an injury-related issue. The deal was scrapped for now, though United could revisit it later in the window.
What happens next? Tielemans is expected to undergo a medical and finalise his move, while Santos has already started training and could feature in United's pre-season friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July. United may still pursue other targets before the window closes.
