Manchester United open talks for Youri Tielemans after Andrey Santos signing
By Mark Walker, Press Association
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea on a five-year deal.
United have not disclosed the fee for the 22-year-old, which was reported to rise up to £50 million when the two sides agreed to the move last Wednesday.
Santos becomes United’s first signing of the summer and leaves Chelsea after two and a half years having made 47 appearances in all competitions.
https://x.com/ManUtd/status/2076651607522242596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
United, who announced the deal on X after posting an earlier teaser video, said: “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.”
United are also in talks with Aston Villa in a bid to sign Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, the Press Association understands.
The club have made midfield strengthening a priority this summer following the departure of Brazil’s Casemiro and the knee ligament injury sustained by Manuel Ugarte in Uruguay’s World Cup group-stage defeat to Spain.
They had earlier missed out on reported targets Elliot Anderson, with Manchester City agreeing a deal for the Nottingham Forest player, and Mateus Fernandes, who has joined Tottenham from Southampton.
Santos said: “Everything about Manchester United is special; it is an incredible feeling to join a club that some of my biggest idols have represented.
“As a midfielder, I am really excited to have the opportunity to learn from Michael Carrick, he is the perfect coach to help me take the next step in my career and push to achieve my dreams.”
Santos was signed by Chelsea for £16m from Vasco da Gama in 2023 and was loaned back to the Brazilian side for the remainder of that season.
A spell on loan followed at Forest for the 2023-24 campaign before two separate stints with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
Santos returned to Chelsea for the 2025-26 season but was unable to establish himself in their starting line-up as Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were the first-choice central midfield pairing.
Tielemans captained Belgium to the World Cup quarter-finals but he missed Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Spain after sustaining an injury in the warm-up, later reported to be a hamstring strain.
The 29-year-old joined Villa on a free transfer from Leicester in 2023 and has played a key role for Unai Emery’s side, who qualified for the Champions League last season and won the Europa League.
He has made over 130 appearances in all competitions for the West Midlands club, including 35 last season in which he scored two goals and made seven assists.
