Manchester United had a deal in place. A €45 million fee, agreed with Atalanta. Ederson had even completed his medical while on World Cup duty with Brazil, after Carlo Ancelotti called him up to replace an injured Wesley Franca. The move was essentially done.
Then United pulled out.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Red Devils walked away from the transfer at the 11th hour. No official reason has been given, but the result is clear: Ederson is heading back to Bergamo instead of signing with the 20-time English champions. And now Atalanta is moving quickly to lock him down.
The Brazilian midfielder is expected to sign a contract extension, which is a sharp turn from where things stood just a few weeks ago. His current deal runs through 2027, but Atalanta wants to add more years and likely a higher wage to keep Europe’s biggest clubs from circling again.
Atalanta Never Really Wanted to Sell
This wasn’t a situation where Atalanta was shopping Ederson. They were willing to listen if the price was right, but only reluctantly. Last summer, they turned down multiple approaches from Inter Milan, making it clear the 27-year-old was part of their long-term plans.
And that made sense. After a slow start to the season because of injuries, Ederson became one of Raffaele Palladino’s most reliable players. He made 30 appearances in Serie A and added nine more in the Champions League. He was a key part of the midfield, not just a rotation piece.
New manager Maurizio Sarri is expected to keep Ederson central to the project. If anything, Sarri probably sees him as an even bigger piece. The former Europa League winners aren’t just trying to hold onto him for next season. They want to avoid another transfer saga entirely.
Ederson’s own feelings on the situation are still unclear. He was ready to go to Manchester. He had the medical. He had the move lined up. Now he’s back in Italy, and Atalanta is hoping the promise of a leading role under Sarri is enough to convince him to commit for the long haul.
For now, the deal with United is dead. And Ederson’s future, for the moment, stays in Bergamo.
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