Andrey Santos is about to become Michael Carrick’s first official signing as Manchester United manager, and he’ll get a head start on learning the system before the squad even boards the plane for Finland.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who cost Chelsea £48 million back in 2023, was spotted at Carrington on Saturday but didn’t train with the group. According to UtdDistrict and the insider account Djaameel, Santos is expected to join his new teammates for his first full session on Monday. That timing matters because United’s preseason opener against Wrexham is scheduled for July 18 in Finland, just over a week away.
United’s deal with Chelsea is structured at £48 million with another £2 million in add-ons. It’s a straightforward swap of Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford for a player who never really settled in west London.
From Raw Talent to Genuine Threat
Santos arrived at Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in January 2023 as a project. Then came loan spells at Nottingham Forest — where he barely played — and Strasbourg, where everything clicked. He put up 10 goals and 3 assists in France, turning heads with his ability to arrive late in the box and finish. That output changed the conversation around him from “maybe someday” to “he’s ready now.”
Carrick clearly agrees. United’s non-World Cup players are already at Carrington working under the new manager’s structure, and Santos walking in on Monday puts him in a relatively small group. Bruno Fernandes and Noussair Mazraoui are still on post-tournament break, so Santos gets a quieter environment to absorb things before the chaos of a full squad and a tour schedule.
Still Thin in the Middle
Signing Santos and chasing goalkeeper Karl Darlow addresses two problem spots, but United’s midfield still looks light. The club has been linked with Manu Koné and João Gomes as potential additions, and Carrick wants any new midfielders onboard early enough to get comfortable with his system before Champions League games start piling up.
The Éderson pursuit that popped up in earlier reports? Dead. United moved on this week and are focused on getting Santos officially announced and figuring out what else is realistic before the tour leaves.
Santos gives them something they lacked last season: a midfielder who can score from deep without being asked to be the main creative hub. Whether he starts against Wrexham is another question, but he’ll have a week of Carrick’s drills in his legs before that decision gets made.
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