Manchester United have completed the £48m purchase of Andrey Santos from Chelsea. The club is also closing in on a surprise move for Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans after putting a deal for Ederson on hold.

United intend to activate a release clause to sign the Belgium captain for approximately £35m, dealing a setback to Unai Emery.

Tielemans will become the second addition to Michael Carrick’s summer midfield overhaul. The 22-year-old Santos has already formalised his arrival by signing a five-year contract.

United previously agreed on a £35m fee with Atalanta to sign Brazil international Ederson, planning a July medical to complete the transfer. However, after a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad, Ederson underwent a medical in the United States that indicated an issue.

Following Brazil’s elimination from the tournament, United performed a full medical this week. This resulted in the club’s decision to halt the transfer at the currently agreed-upon price.

United remain sympathetic to Ederson and have not ruled out a future move for the 27-year-old.

Instead, the club shifted focus to Tielemans. The midfielder earned Villa’s player of the year award for the 2024-25 season and scored in their Europa League final win over Freiburg in May.

While the sale would provide significant profit for Villa—who signed the 29-year-old on a free transfer from Leicester three years ago and face issues complying with PSR regulations—his departure would create further midfield challenges for Emery. The club is already managing the absence of Amadou Onana, who sustained a cruciate ligament injury during Belgium’s World Cup run.

Villa plan to sign Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, who had appeared set to join Newcastle before Villa intervened.

Meanwhile, Santos becomes the first signing for Carrick as Manchester United manager. The Brazilian expressed that the opportunity to work with one of the club’s most decorated midfielders influenced his decision to join.

“Everything about Manchester United is special; it is an incredible feeling to join a club that some of my biggest idols have represented,” he said.

“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.

“Everybody told me about how ambitious the club is and the amazing environment that has been created here. I know just how strong the squad is and I cannot wait to fight together to compete for the biggest trophies.”

United’s director of football Jason Wilcox 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.

“Despite already having extensive experience, leadership abilities and proving his talent at the highest level, Andrey still has enormous potential to develop further, and we cannot wait to see him flourish at Manchester United.”