Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea after completing a deal worth up to £50 million. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford.
Deal Details
United will pay an initial £48 million for the midfielder, with a further £2 million in add-ons. Santos has committed to the club until June 2031, with an option to extend for an additional year.
Why Santos Left Chelsea
Santos was keen to leave Stamford Bridge this summer after struggling for game time behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. He made 27 Premier League appearances last season, but only 13 of them were starts. The Brazil international also failed to make Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad this summer.
Club Statement
Manchester United released a statement confirming the transfer: "Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Andrey Santos has joined the club, subject to registration. The Brazil international has signed a contract until June 2031, with the option to extend for a further year."
The statement added: "The 22-year-old, who has captained Brazil up to the Under-23 level, won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. Last season, he represented Chelsea 43 times and registered the highest pass completion rate and the most progressive passes per 90 minutes of midfielders under the age of 22 in the Premier League. Santos spent the season before on loan at RC Strasbourg Alsace, captaining the side on multiple occasions, scoring 11 goals and contributing five assists."
Midfield Rebuild
Santos is part of a midfield rebuild at Old Trafford this summer, with Belgium international Youri Tielemans also set to join from Aston Villa this week. United moved quickly to secure Santos, who should be available for pre-season training and could feature in early friendlies against Wrexham and Rosenborg.
Background
Chelsea signed Santos as an 18-year-old in January 2023, but the midfielder struggled to force his way into the side. He had a successful loan spell at Strasbourg but also had a difficult year at Nottingham Forest.
