Carlos Baleba grew up in Douala, Cameroon, and joined Lille in 2022. After one season in France he moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023.
At Brighton he developed into one of the Premier League’s most promising defensive midfielders: athletic, quick to recover the ball and able to drive forward with it. His form attracted interest from several top clubs.
Manchester United signed him in August 2026 for £65 million plus add-ons. Baleba is a regular for Cameroon.
Playing style
Baleba is an athletic defensive midfielder who is quick to recover the ball. He is strong in the tackle, covers a lot of ground and can drive forward with the ball through midfield, often beating the first press. His development at Brighton, under Roberto De Zerbi and then Fabian Hürzeler, turned him into one of the most promising young midfielders in the Premier League. He is still refining his passing and positioning, but his physical qualities and energy make him valuable in a demanding league. United paid a large fee because they see him as a long-term cornerstone of their midfield.
International career
Baleba has become a regular in the Cameroon squad and is seen as one of the key players for the next generation of the national team.
Career in numbers
Across 4 seasons of senior club football, beginning in 2022/23, Baleba has played 135 matches and scored 4 goals for 2 clubs. The 2024/25 season, with 4 goals from 40 matches for Brighton & Hove Albion, remains his highest tally. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.