Manchester United have completed the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m for the midfielder.
United will pay an initial £48million for the 22-year-old, with a further £2million in add-ons, and he has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old Brazil international faced a battle for regular game time in 2026/27, given Chelsea will not participate in European competition.
Santos was keen to leave Stamford Bridge this summer after struggling for game time behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. He made 27 Premier League appearances last season, but only 13 of them were starts.
United moved quickly to wrap up the signing of the Brazil international, who failed to make Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad this summer.
Speaking to United after completing the move, 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.
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, added: “Andrey is an outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch.
“He was a key target for us in an important position, so we are delighted that he will join Michael’s squad so early in pre-season.”
Santos joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in 2023 and spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg.