MANCHESTER UNITED CONFIRM 25-MAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD

Man United will return to the Champions League this season and they have named their European squad ahead of the competition starting next week.

The 2026/27 Champions League league phase starts next week

Manchester United have named their 25-man Champions League squad as they prepare for their return to the competition.

United kick off their European campaign next week with a home game against Sabah FK. The other seven sides the Reds will face in the league phase of the Champions League are Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Sporting, RB Leipzig, Villarreal and Como.

Teams competing in this season's Champions League had until Wednesday evening to submit their squads. There are a number of high-profile names not included on United's 25-man list, including Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro. However, both will still be eligible to play in the Champions League.

Teams are required to submit an 'A list' of players who can play in the Champions League, which is the list that has now been confirmed.

There is no requirement to include any player on the 'A list' who was born on or after 1 January 2005 and has been eligible to play for the club for two consecutive years since turning 15 (or three years including a loan spell). Any player who falls into this category is added to a 'B list', and this is submitted to UEFA either on or before the day prior to a Champions League match.

The 'A list' that has been submitted to UEFA is now locked in for the league phase of the competition. However, should United reach the knockout rounds, they will have until 4 February 2027 to register a maximum of three new players.

United's 25-man Champions League squad:

Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow, Tom Heaton, Senne Lammens, Dermot Mee

Defenders: Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven

Midfielders: Carlos Baleba, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, Manuel Ugarte

Forwards: Amad, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko, Joshua Zirkzee, Tynan Thompson

- Ross Jackson

MAN UTD AGREE £70 CARLOS BALEBA DEAL WITH BRIGHTON AS MIDFIELDER GOES FOR MEDICAL

AFP

Manchester United have taken a massive step toward completing their summer rebuild after reaching an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion for Carlos Baleba. The highly-rated midfielder is now expected to travel for a medical as Michael Carrick looks to bolster his engine room following a series of high-profile departures and injuries.

Red Devils land primary midfield target

According to The Athletic, Manchester United have successfully negotiated a deal for Brighton star Baleba, with the total package for the Cameroon international set to reach £70 million. The two Premier League clubs reached a definitive breakthrough in talks after weeks of speculation surrounding the 22-year-old's future, with United paying a guaranteed fixed fee of £65m alongside £5m in add-ons. The midfielder is expected to travel tonight ahead of a scheduled medical on Saturday.

Manchester United continue to stay active in the summer transfer window as they prepare for their return to the Champions League. The Red Devils have already bolstered Carrick's squad with the acquisitions of Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow from Leeds United.

Getty Images Sport

Addressing a crisis in the engine room

The pursuit of Baleba comes at a pivotal moment for United, whose central midfield options have been thinned by summer departures and key injuries. With Casemiro departing on a free transfer and Manuel Ugarte sidelined by a ligament injury suffered at the World Cup, reinforcing the middle of the pitch became a top priority for the club's recruitment team.

Despite the excitement surrounding his arrival, Baleba is working his way back to full fitness after a pre-season setback. The Cameroon international is currently sidelined with an ankle ligament injury sustained during the summer break, which kept him out of Brighton's goalless draw against Tromso in the first leg of their Conference League qualifier on Thursday.

Data-driven pursuit yields results

United's interest in the former Lille midfielder is far from a sudden development, with the club's recruitment team keeping close tabs on his progress for several seasons. Old Trafford scouts monitored Baleba extensively throughout the 2025-26 campaign, having already explored a potential deal for the Cameroonian last summer.

Baleba's ascent to the upper echelons of English football has been swift since arriving from Ligue 1. After joining Brighton from Lille in the summer of 2023, the midfielder made 112 appearances for the Seagulls, though he was limited to 23 Premier League starts last season.

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Brighton's summer exodus continues

Baleba will become the latest high-profile departure from Brighton this summer, following the exits of Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham Hotspur, Danny Welbeck to Chelsea, and Diego Coppola to Paris FC.

Brighton kick off their new Premier League campaign by hosting Aston Villa on Sunday, while Manchester United travel to face newly-promoted Hull City tomorrow, Saturday.

- Khaled Mahmoud

MAN UNITED CAN COMPLETE FIVE TRANSFERS INCLUDING BALEBA THIS WEEK BEFORE HULL CITY CLASH

The Red Devils have plenty of work left on their transfer to-do list.

Michael Carrick is looking to complete his business for the summer (Image: Getty)

Manchester United’s summer transfer window was expected to be a little busier than it has so far turned out to be. It started out strong, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans having both penned deals before the conclusion of the World Cup.

Karl Darlow aside, United haven’t made any other additions to their squad, with time running out before deadline day. United are still said to be pushing for new signings, while players are also being linked with moves away from the club. As such, Express Sport have picked out seven transfers United could complete before this weekend’s Premier League season opener...

Academy trio allowed to leave

It’s being reported that three players who have first-team experience with United could be allowed to leave. Chief among them being Toby Collyer, who spent the previous season out on loan at West Brom.

It’s reported that the Baggies are in talks with United about making the move permanent, while Harry Amass could also be on the chopping block. BBC Sport suggest a loan is more likely than a permanent sale at this stage, unlike the fate that awaits Ethan Wheatley.

The talented striker is attracting interest from Everton, as per Fabrizio Romano, who claims a proposal is being prepared. The 20-year-old is admired by the Merseyside outfit, who are keen to add reinforcements in attack.

Push for a left-back steps up

United have been tracking a left-back all summer, with Lewis Hall their first-choice pick. However, the chance of pulling this one off is slim, given Newcastle have made it clear they don’t intend on selling the English international.

As a result, United have been eyeing up potential alternatives, including Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is said to have been offered to the Red Devils by intermediaries. Elsewhere, Jorge Salinas has emerged as a potential option, with the teenager having caught the eye at Racing Santander.

Man Utd want to recruit Carlos Baleba from Brighton (Image: Getty)

Carlos Baleba joins as final midfield addition

Midfield was the priority position before the start of the summer, and with Santos and Tielemans, United have made inroads. But there is still work to be done.

United still want to sign a third midfielder and Carlos Baleba is the man they want. Brighton are expected to reject their initial bid - £60m with £5m in add-ons - but an agreement is expected soon.

Joshua Zirkzee leaves and replacement joins

And finally, it hasn’t been the move to United that Joshua Zirkzee would’ve hoped for. The Dutchman hasn’t been able to establish himself in the starting XI under United’s last three managers and is now being linked with a return to Italy.

It has been suggested that if United were to lose Zirkzee, Carrick is keen to see him replaced. While there are only two weeks of the window left, it’s clear there is still plenty left on United’s to-do list.

- Amos Murphy