Manchester United officially announce the signing of Chelsea's Brazil international defensive midfielder Andrey Santos..

Manchester United announced on their official website on Monday that they have signed Brazil international defensive midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea.

According to Manchester United's official statement, Santos has signed on a long-term five-year deal with the club which runs until the summer of 2031, with an option to extend for a further year. He will also wear the number 17 shirt which was vacated following Argentina international winger Alejandro Garnacho's departure.

Furthermore, according to The Athletic's resident renowned transfer journalist David Ornstein, the Red Devils paid the Blues £50 million to sign Santos, and Chelsea will also be entitled to a 10% cut of sell-on clause.

After completing his transfer procedures, Santos, who was interviewed by the Manchester United official website for the first time, said: "I'm delighted to be here; it's an honour for me. I can't wait to meet my teammates. To be honest, I've dreamed of this moment since I was a young."

"I'm here because of the club's history and because of the badge. I can't wait to play for this team and these fans, and help create some new and unforgettable memories."

"I'm here to inject energy into the team, to fight for the biggest honours, to win the ball back, to drive the team forward, and to give everything for this club. Therefore, I'm delighted to be here. Now, I want to prove myself and make my own mark on the history of this great club."

About Andrey Santos

The 22-year-old Santos was born on May 3, 2004, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is 1.80 meters tall and plays as a defensive midfielder.

Santos joined Vasco da Gama's youth academy at a young age and made his first-team debut in March 2022 by coming on as a substitute in a Campeonato Carioca match, at just 16 years old.

During his two-year spell at Vasco da Gama, Santos won the Taça Rio once and became the youngest goalscorer in the club's history.

In January 2023, Santos joined Chelsea for £18 million but was immediately loaned back to Vasco da Gama.

In August of the same year, Santos was loaned-out to Nottingham Forest, but he only made two appearances.

On the 2024 winter transfer window deadline day, Santos joined Chelsea's sister club, Strasbourg, on a one-and-a-half-year loan. During this time, he helped the club reach the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France once.

After his loan spell ended in the summer of 2025, Santos officially became a regular starter for Chelsea's first-team.

During his time with the Blues, Santos made 47 appearances for the Premier League giants, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists, and won the FIFA Club World Cup once with the club.

Image source: Internet / Manchester United official website