Andrey Santos is heading to Manchester United. Sky Sports and ESPN confirmed on July 8, 2026 that United have agreed a £50m deal with Chelsea for the 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder. The fee breaks down as £48m guaranteed with £2m in add-ons, plus a 10% sell-on clause retained by Chelsea. Santos has been given permission to undergo a medical with United and personal terms are already agreed.
Who Is Andrey Santos and What Teams Has He Played For?
Andrey Santos is a 22-year-old Brazilian defensive and central midfielder who currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League. Born on May 3, 2004, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he is a right-footed player standing 180cm tall.
His sports career across clubs reads as follows:
- Vasco da Gama (Brazil): Professional debut at 16 years old on March 6, 2021
- Chelsea (England): Signed in January 2023 for a reported fee of around £12m
- Vasco da Gama (loan): Returned on loan until June 2023 after signing for Chelsea
- Nottingham Forest (loan): August 2023 to January 2024; only 2 appearances
- Strasbourg (loan): February 2024 to June 2025; 43 Ligue 1 appearances, 11 goals, 3 assists
- Chelsea (permanent): Rejoined Chelsea in June 2025 for the 2025-26 Premier League season
- Manchester United (incoming): £50m deal agreed on July 8, 2026
Andrey Santos Quick Profile
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Andrey Nascimento dos Santos |
| Date of Birth | May 3, 2004 |
| Age | 22 |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Position | Central/Defensive Midfielder |
| Current Club | Chelsea (soon Man United) |
| Andrey Santos Jersey Number | 17 (Chelsea shirt number) |
| Height | 180 cm |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Andrey Santos Market Value | €49.3 million (Transfermarkt) |
Why Did Manchester United Sign Andrey Santos?
Manchester United turned to Andrey Santos as a deliberate value-driven decision. According to Flashscore’s insider Dean Jones, United have been “turning their nose up at some of the fees being touted for midfield players this summer.”
United had been unwilling to reach fee levels like the £85 million Tottenham paid for Mateus Fernandes from West Ham or the £100 million being quoted for Sandro Tonali. Santos at £48m initial fee fits cleanly within Ruben Amorim’s summer pricing strategy.
United have already agreed a deal with Atalanta for Ederson at £35 million. Together, the deals for Ederson and Santos are close to the single fee Tottenham paid for Fernandes, and United always made it clear they were unwilling to reach such levels.
The logic is clear. Two midfielders for the price of one. Santos brings youth and potential at 22. Ederson brings experience and reliability. Together, they address the central midfield rebuild United have been planning since the start of the summer window.
United have consistently reported that they would ideally like to sign three midfielders, and they retain an interest in Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni.Santos is the second piece of that puzzle.
What Are the Key Statistics for Andrey Santos’s Performance?
Andrey Santos Stats at Strasbourg (2024-25 Ligue 1)
Last season at Strasbourg, Santos made 32 Ligue 1 appearances, scored 10 goals, and provided 3 assists. That is a remarkable return for a central midfielder. Across both loan spells at Strasbourg in total, he made 43 Ligue 1 appearances, scoring 11 goals and providing 3 assists.
His 10 goals in 32 Ligue 1 games in 2024-25 put him in the top tier of goal-scoring midfielders across Europe’s major leagues that season, particularly given his defensive midfield role.
Andrey Santos Stats This Season (2025-26 Premier League)
In the 2025-26 Premier League season, Andrey Santos recorded 1 goal and 0 assists across 1,255 minutes played, with an average FotMob rating of 6.73 and 4 yellow cards.
His Premier League minutes were limited. Chelsea used him sparingly, rotating him in and out of the squad throughout the campaign. He debuted at Premier League level for Chelsea in their game with Crystal Palace on August 17, 2025, and scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea on May 19, 2026, in a 2-1 win over Tottenham.
That Tottenham match included a goal and an assist in what was arguably his best individual performance in Chelsea colours.
Career Stats Summary
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vasco da Gama | 2021-22 | 25+ | 3 | 2 |
| Nottingham Forest | 2023-24 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Strasbourg (loan 1) | 2023-24 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Strasbourg (loan 2) | 2024-25 | 32 | 10 | 3 |
| Chelsea | 2025-26 | 28 PL apps | 1 | 0 |
What Position Does Andrey Santos Play and What Is His Style?
Andrey Santos plays primarily as a central midfielder, with the ability to drop deeper into a defensive midfield role. He is not a pure destroyer. He is a ball-winning midfielder who also contributes offensively, which is precisely what makes his Strasbourg stats so striking.
His style of play includes:
- High press and aggressive ball recovery
- Driving runs from deep into the final third
- Long-range shooting ability; his 10 goals at Strasbourg came from inside and outside the area
- Strong positional sense to disrupt opposition build-up play
- Technical ability on the ball, developed through his early futsal background in Brazil
Santos originally played in defence before swapping to midfield during his time in Vasco da Gama’s youth academy. That defensive instinct stayed with him and underpins his reading of the game in central areas.
His futsal roots are also significant. At the age of four, Santos was introduced to futsal. He fell in love with the game. Futsal players typically develop superior close-control, quick decision-making under pressure, and spatial awareness. You see all of those qualities when you watch Andrey Santos in a tight match.
Andrey Santos Chelsea Career: What Happened at Stamford Bridge?
Santos signed for Chelsea in January 2023 from Vasco da Gama. His arrival generated significant excitement, but he spent most of his first two and a half years at the club out on loan.
Santos returned to Vasco on loan shortly after signing. He then had a loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2023-24, before two loan spells at Strasbourg in 2024 and 2025.
The Nottingham Forest loan was a disappointment. He made his Premier League debut on October 29, 2023, against Liverpool at Anfield in a 3-0 defeat. He was recalled from Nottingham Forest on January 4, 2024 after Santos only made two appearances in 5 months.
The Strasbourg move changed everything. Two loan spells, 43 Ligue 1 appearances, and 11 goals transformed him into one of the most exciting young midfielders in European football. Santos rejoined Chelsea in June 2025 after his Strasbourg loan, and made his Premier League debut for the club against Crystal Palace on August 17, 2025.
But even back at Chelsea, regular starts were hard to come by. He made 28 Premier League appearances but accumulated only 1,255 minutes, suggesting he was largely used from the bench. The move to United gives him the chance to start consistently at a top six club for the first time in his career.
As for the question of when Andrey Santos played for Chelsea, his senior Chelsea career only started from August 2025 onwards, after his return from Strasbourg. His Chelsea squad number is 17.
Andrey Santos Brazil Career
Santos is a full Brazil international. He made his senior international debut at the age of 18 in March 2023, when he was called up by interim coach Ramon Menezes for Brazil’s friendly away at Morocco.
His journey through the youth ranks is equally impressive. He represented Brazil at U-15 level at the 2019 South American U-15 Championship. He captained Brazil at U-20 level to the 2023 South American U-20 Championship title, where he was the tournament’s joint-top scorer with six goals. He also captained the Brazil U-23 team at the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.
Andrey Santos was included in Brazil’s 26-man World Cup 2026 squad, announced in May 2026. He was part of the squad during the tournament, though his role as a squad player at club level means his minutes in Brazil’s campaign at World Cup 2026 were limited.
What Did Santos Win With Chelsea?
Despite the loan spells and limited starts, Santos still collected some notable honours during his time at Chelsea.
Throughout his career, Andrey Santos has won four titles: the Florida Cup (2023), the Premier League Summer Series (2023), and the FIFA Club World Cup (2025, USA) with Chelsea, and the CONMEBOL U-20 Championship (2023, Colombia) with Brazil U-20.
The Club World Cup win with Chelsea in 2025 is the biggest club honour of his career to date.
What Does This Deal Mean for Manchester United?
This is a significant piece of business for United’s midfield rebuild under Ruben Amorim. United finished the 2025-26 Premier League season in poor form, and a deep restructuring of the squad was needed across multiple positions.
United had been aiming to bring early additions to their midfield and will now seek to add another one of real quality, if the right-priced deal can be negotiated. Tchouaméni from Real Madrid remains on the shortlist as the potential third midfield signing.
Santos brings something United have lacked in central midfield: a profile that combines defensive work rate with genuine goal threat. His record of 10 goals in 32 Ligue 1 games is not a fluke. It shows a midfielder who takes the licence to arrive late into the box and convert chances.
Santos, 22, brings potential to the squad, while Ederson brings experience and reliability. Together, they address both the short-term and long-term needs of United’s engine room.
At £48m initial fee, United are also getting a player whose market value on Transfermarkt currently sits at €49.3 million. The deal barely represents a premium over market rate, which is rare in the modern transfer market.
Where Can You Watch Live Matches Featuring Andrey Santos?
Once Santos completes his move to Manchester United, you will see him playing Premier League football at Old Trafford and across England. United games are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports and TNT Sports. In Bangladesh, Star Sports and T Sports carry select Premier League fixtures.
If you want live Premier League betting alongside your viewing, Jeta33 gives Bangladesh fans the full live betting experience for every United match.
FAQ:
Who is Andrey Santos and what teams has he played for?
Andrey Santos is a 22-year-old Brazilian central midfielder born on May 3, 2004. He began his career at Vasco da Gama before Chelsea signed him in January 2023. He has had loan spells at Vasco, Nottingham Forest, and Strasbourg, where he scored 11 goals in 43 Ligue 1 appearances. He rejoined Chelsea for 2025-26 and is now set to join Manchester United for £50m.
What are the key statistics for Andrey Santos’s performance?
At Strasbourg in 2024-25, Santos made 32 Ligue 1 appearances and scored 10 goals with 3 assists. In the 2025-26 Premier League season at Chelsea, he made 28 appearances, scoring 1 goal in 1,255 minutes with an average FotMob rating of 6.73. He wears the number 17 shirt at Chelsea. His current market value is €49.3 million, per Transfermarkt.
What is Andrey Santos’s position and style of play?
Andrey Santos plays as a central midfielder with the ability to drop into a defensive midfield role. His style combines aggressive ball-winning with a genuine goal threat from deep runs. He developed his technical ability through futsal in Brazil, starting at age four. He originally played as a defender at Vasco before coaches moved him to midfield, where his reading of the game makes him particularly effective.
What was the Andrey Santos Chelsea shirt number?
Andrey Santos wore the number 17 shirt at Chelsea. He has held this squad number since returning to the club in June 2025 after his Strasbourg loan. His squad number at Manchester United has not been confirmed yet and will be announced once the transfer is officially completed and his medical passes.
What is Andrey Santos’s market value?
Andrey Santos’s current market value is €49.3 million, according to Transfermarkt. Manchester United agreed a deal worth £48m initial fee plus £2m in add-ons, with Chelsea retaining a 10% sell-on clause. The total potential fee of £50m is closely aligned with his current market valuation, making it a fair deal for both clubs.
Did Andrey Santos play for Brazil at the World Cup 2026?
Yes. Andrey Santos was included in Brazil’s 26-man World Cup 2026 squad. He has represented Brazil at senior level since his debut in March 2023 and previously captained Brazil U-20 to the 2023 South American Championship, where he was joint-top scorer with six goals. He also captained the Brazil U-23 side at the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.
Final Thoughts on Andrey Santos to Manchester United
Andrey Santos is one of the most intriguing young midfielders in English football right now. His scoring record at Strasbourg proved he is far more than a holding midfielder. His defensive instincts, built through years as a ball-winner at Vasco and developed further in Ligue 1, give him the tools to thrive in the Premier League.
United are getting a player with a market value that matches the fee, a proven goal-scoring record at a good standard of football, and five years still ahead of him at 22. The deal sits alongside the Ederson signing from Atalanta as part of a well-structured, sensible midfield rebuild.
If Santos hits the same form at United that he produced at Strasbourg in 2024-25, United fans will look back on this as the summer signing that changed the direction of the club.
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