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Manchester United set to sign Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Andrey Santos in £50 million deal - reports
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Published 08/07/2026 at 18:47 GMT+1
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Manchester United are set to sign Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, according to reports. The Brazilian midfielder had established himself as a first-team player at Stamford Bridge last season after spending 18 months on loan at Strasbourg.
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The Red Devils have agreed a fee worth around £48 million, plus £2m in add-ons, for Santos, according to The Athletic.
Santos, under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2030, has reportedly agreed personal terms with United, and has been given permission to travel to Manchester and complete the transfer to Chelsea's Premier League rivals.
The 22-year-old Brazilian, who joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in 2023, has made six Selecao appearances, but he did not make his country’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Santos spent the first half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Nottingham Forest, and went on to spend 18 months at Strasbourg.
He returned to England and made 43 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions last season, scoring three goals.
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United are looking to strengthen their midfield this summer following the departure of Casemiro, Santos' compatriot.
Casemiro revealed midway through last season that he would leave Old Trafford upon the expiry of his contract.
He was left devastated after Brazil were beaten 2-1 by Norway in their last-16 tie.
Speaking after the defeat, he said: "It’s difficult to find… to find words. I’m sorry. It’s difficult to find words at the moment. It’s always been a dream [to win the World Cup]."
United have also lost Manuel Ugarte to injury - he suffered knee ligament damage playing for Uruguay at the World Cup - and the club was linked with Forest's Elliot Anderson, who has agreed a British-record £116m move to Manchester City.
England international Anderson will complete his switch after the World Cup.
United had also been connected to the potential signing of West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes, with the Portugal international instead moving to Tottenham Hotspur for £85m.
"Ederson is a well-rounded, hard-working midfielder with a very good work-rate," said TNT Sports' lead Serie A commentator Adam Summerton.
Xhaka rules out Chelsea move
Chelsea, meanwhile, have been looking to strengthen their midfield.
The club was strongly linked with a move for Sunderland's Granit Xhaka, who is at the World Cup with Switzerland.
Xhaka, 33, revealed why he was staying on Wearside after his country beat Colombia on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.
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