Andrey Santos has spoken for the first time as a Manchester United player after the Red Devils announced the signing of the midfielder from Chelsea, completing a move worth up to £50million. United will part with an initial £48million for the 22-year-old Brazilian, with a further £2million in potential add-ons, as Santos puts pen to paper on a five-year deal at Old Trafford.
Santos said after being unveiled: “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. 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.”
Santos was eager to depart Stamford Bridge this summer, having found first-team opportunities limited behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. He featured 27 times in the Premier League last season, yet managed just 13 starts throughout the campaign.
United moved swiftly to secure the Brazil international, who was absent from Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad this summer.
His early arrival means he should be ready to join pre-season training in good time, with appearances in the upcoming friendlies against Wrexham and Rosenborg on the horizon.
United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, said of the Brazil under-23 captain: “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.
“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.”
Chelsea secured Santos’s signature as an 18-year-old in January 2023, but the midfielder has found it challenging to establish himself in the starting XI. While he enjoyed a productive loan stint at Strasbourg, he also endured a testing campaign at Nottingham Forest.
He forms part of a midfield overhaul at Old Trafford this summer, with Belgium international Youri Tielemans also expected to arrive from Aston Villa this week.