Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, according to journalist David Ornstein, with the transfer moving quickly toward completion.
The Red Devils will pay £48 million plus a further £2 million in add-ons to land the 22-year-old Brazilian from Stamford Bridge.
Santos has already been given permission to undergo his medical, and personal terms between the player and United are understood to be in place.
The deal appears to be a formality at this stage, with the midfielder expected to become a Manchester United player within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Santos enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Chelsea last term, making 43 appearances in total, with 27 of those coming in the Premier League.
Despite his involvement, he managed fewer than 1,300 Premier League minutes, largely playing second fiddle to Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the Blues midfield.
His most impressive form came during a loan spell at Strasbourg in 2024/25, where he won 7 duels and 3.4 tackles per game in Ligue 1, while making almost 6 recoveries per outing.
The young Brazilian also completed 89 percent of his passes that season and chipped in with 13 goal contributions, showcasing the talent that attracted United’s interest.
At Old Trafford, Santos will have a genuine opportunity to compete for a starting position, with Casemiro having departed and Manuel Ugarte ruled out through a serious knee injury.
Kobbie Mainoo is considered a nailed-on starter in the no.8 role, which leaves the no.6 berth open for Santos to make his own at the club.
United have also been pursuing Atalanta midfielder Ederson, though that deal has faced complications after the player received a late call-up to the World Cup squad by Carlo Ancelotti.
Ederson is set to undergo a second medical in Manchester, and there remain some questions surrounding knee injuries he suffered last season that United will want to assess carefully.
If both deals go through, Manchester United will have made a significant statement of intent in the transfer market ahead of the new season.
Santos, in particular, represents an exciting acquisition, and the Red Devils will be hoping Old Trafford provides the stage for him to finally fulfil his considerable potential.