Andrey Santos is said to view Manchester United as the ‘perfect chapter’ for his career, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The midfielder is poised to undergo his medical today ahead of completing a £50 million (£48m upfront plus £2m in add-ons) move from Chelsea.
🚨🔴 Andrey Santos asked to leave Chelsea and wanted Man United, seen as perfect chapter for his career.
Two meetings with his agents took place in February and March, #MUFC to pay £48m plus £2m with 10% sell-on.
🎥➕ https://t.co/nu2sA7oSaN pic.twitter.com/l3IvS0sC9J
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2026
Andrey Santos to complete United move this week
Assuming everything goes to plan, Santos will then put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Old Trafford.
As I said on @TOTDevils , MUFC like Andrey Santos for his 'amazing' football brain. That he'll become Brazil's no.6. That he has some PL experience. Not perfect since he's not fully established, but a serious emerging talent. And he's a player with a value likely to increase
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) July 8, 2026
He has been on Chelsea’s books for three-and-a-half years following his £17.5m transfer from Vasco de Gama in January 2023, after which he returned to the Brazilian outfit on loan for the second half of the season.
The 22-year-old also oversaw loans with Strasbourg and Nottingham Forest, though the latter was cut short after only five months due to his lack of minutes.
He has been navigating a similar situation with his parent club, however, where he has failed to nail down a starting role in the time he’s been at Stamford Bridge.
Why United began targeting Santos
Santos ranks behind Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, both of whom cost Chelsea over £100m each, in the pecking order, and that’s unlikely to change throughout Xabi Alonso’s tenure unless Fernandez were to depart.
The fact that the London outfit has no form of European football to account for next season means game time would’ve been even harder to come by for the six-capped Brazilian, who was granted only 13 Premier League starts in 2025/2026.
Andrey Santos doubles Chelsea's lead over Spurs! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0m2u1bAM6H
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2026
United missed out on alternative targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes due to their exorbitant price tags, while long-admired midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is now in line to sign an extension with Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Ederson will also be undergoing his full medical at Carrington in the coming days following Brazil’s last-16 exit from the World Cup.
Read more: The Athletic — Man Utd make plans to sign ‘marquee’ midfielder after Santos and Ederson
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