Manchester United’s summer hit its most volatile 24 hours yet on Friday. A £50m midfielder passed his medical and prepared to sign, a £38m deal for another collapsed entirely, and the club opened talks on a third — all while the manager waits on four players still chasing a World Cup in America. Balancing a full-scale midfield rebuild against a tournament that refuses to release United’s players is the most delicate act INEOS have attempted since taking football control.
The direction of travel, though, is clear: this squad will look very different by August. Casemiro is gone, Marcus Rashford is priced for sale, and the men running recruitment showed on Friday they will walk away from an agreed deal rather than swallow a flagged medical.
The pace has been relentless. A €45m package for Ederson agreed in early June was dead by 10th July. Andrey Santos went from Chelsea squad player to £50m United signing-in-waiting inside a week. Elliot Anderson cost Manchester City £116m and Mateus Fernandes cost Tottenham £85m this window — so if £116m is the going rate for an elite Premier League midfielder, is £50m for Santos the bargain of the summer, or the market’s verdict?
Who have Manchester United signed so far in summer 2026?
No official announcements yet — but two are imminent. As covered in our report on the double signing of Andrey Santos and Karl Darlow, both players have passed medicals, and Fabrizio Romano reports both were due to sign contracts on Friday. Santos arrives from Chelsea for a reported £48m plus £2m in add-ons on a deal to June 2031 with an option year; Darlow joins on a free after leaving Leeds to provide senior goalkeeping cover.
Why did the Ederson transfer collapse?
The day’s biggest story. United had already delayed the deal over medical doubts, and by Friday evening Romano reported the £38m move was off entirely, with Atalanta informed. The Times says a long-term knee concern was flagged in the medical; Atalanta insist the Brazilian is 100 per cent fit and suspect United simply changed course. Either way, INEOS have moved on — a full breakdown follows in our Ederson deep dive.
Who else are Manchester United trying to sign?
Two live threads emerged on Friday. Roma’s Manu Kone is the reported priority to replace Ederson in the plan — an approach was made within hours of the collapse, per Roma Press, with Roma valuing the France midfielder at €50m. And at full-back, United are monitoring Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams, the Wales international reportedly available for around £18m.
Which players could still leave Old Trafford?
Rashford remains the big one. Tottenham are reported to be the most advanced suitors at United’s £40m valuation, with Roma and Napoli sounded out and Turkish interest dismissed by the player’s camp. Casemiro’s exit is already done in all but paperwork — his contract expired on 30th June and he is expected to be announced by Inter Miami when the MLS secondary window opens on 13th July.
How are United’s World Cup players faring?
Saturday brings the biggest club-adjacent fixture of the summer: Norway v England in the World Cup quarter-final in Miami, where Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are waiting on Thomas Tuchel’s selection call. Elsewhere on Friday, Benjamin Sesko was handed a bespoke fitness plan after missing the opening pre-season training photos, and Noussair Mazraoui’s World Cup run ended — a pre-season lift for Michael Carrick, who welcomes his first friendly opponents, Wrexham, on 18th July.
The day in numbers
| Player | Direction | Fee | Status (10th July 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrey Santos (Chelsea) | In | £50m reported | Medical passed; signing contract |
| Karl Darlow (ex-Leeds) | In | Free | Medical passed; signing contract |
| Ederson (Atalanta) | In — OFF | £38m agreed | Deal collapsed; Atalanta informed |
| Manu Kone (Roma) | In — target | €50m valuation | Approach reported |
| Neco Williams (Forest) | In — target | ~£18m reported | Monitoring |
| Casemiro | Out | Free | Inter Miami expected from 13th July |
| Marcus Rashford | Out — for sale | £40m valuation | Tottenham lead interest |
Summer 2026 Transfer Window Facts
Have Manchester United completed any senior signings this summer?
Not officially. As of 10th July 2026, Andrey Santos (£50m reported) and Karl Darlow (free) have passed medicals, with announcements expected imminently.
Is Ederson still joining Manchester United?
No. As of 10th July 2026, the £38m deal is off and considered collapsed, per Fabrizio Romano, after concerns raised in his medical.
Will Marcus Rashford leave Manchester United in 2026?
United want a sale at a reported £40m. As of 10th July 2026, Tottenham lead the race; no bid has been accepted.
When do England play Norway in the World Cup quarter-final?
Saturday 11th July 2026 at Miami Stadium — with United’s Rashford and Mainoo in the England squad and Amad’s Ivory Coast already eliminated.
When is Manchester United’s first pre-season friendly?
Saturday 18th July 2026 against Wrexham.
Sources: Fabrizio Romano, The Times, Sky Sports, Football Italia, Football365, Roma Press, BBC Sport, Manchester Evening News.
