Manchester United are reportedly ‘keen’ on Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba – and fans can’t believe how much he earns at the Seagulls.
Carlos Baleba, 21, joined Brighton from Lille in 2023 and has since made 77 appearances for the south coast club.
In the 2024/25 season, the Cameroonian midfielder played 40 matches under Fabian Hürzeler, helping Brighton secure an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
His standout performances have caught the attention of Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, who are reportedly interested in signing him.
On Thursday, August 8, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that “Manchester United have made contact with Brighton & Hove Albion, via intermediaries, to explore the conditions of a deal for midfielder Carlos Baleba”, though he also noted that “Brighton do not intend to sanction a sale this summer.”
If Carlos Baleba — who is under contract with Brighton until 2028 — were to join Manchester United, he would become the club’s fifth summer signing, following Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon, and Benjamin Šeško.
United supporters have been looking into the 21-year-old’s background, with many surprised by his current salary. According to Capology, Baleba earns about £12,500 per week, or roughly £650,000 per year — a modest figure compared to United’s top earners, such as Casemiro (£350,000 per week) and Bruno Fernandes (£300,000 per week).
Interestingly, 17-year-old forward Chido Obi is said to be on £15,000 per week — around £3,000 more than Baleba. The midfielder’s relatively low wage has sparked plenty of reaction from fans on social media.
Fan reactions to Carlos Baleba’s reported £12,500 weekly wage have been mixed, with some seeing it as a non-issue and others expressing disbelief.
One supporter wrote: “Wages are definitely not an issue. Rashford on 350k is gone. If they are able to move on Garnacho, Antony, Malacia, and Sancho, there’s enough for Baleba. Secondly, if United didn’t do their math, I’m sure they wouldn’t inquire about Baleba.”
Another questioned the figure entirely, saying: “Our average wage is £67k. Baleba was one of our biggest signings when we paid £30m for him. You really believe we are only paying him £12.5k?”
A third pointed to the disparity with top earners: “With his ridiculously low wages, they almost have to sell or give him a new deal. If he pushes for the deal, they will have to sell. BTW, Baleba is on £12.5k per week! That’s £650k per year! Casemiro makes that in two weeks.”
