Carlos Baleba is set to join Manchester United after completing the final stages of his £70 million move from Brighton.
The Cameroon midfielder has reportedly passed his medical, with Manchester United now finishing the paperwork before officially unveiling their latest summer signing. The deal is worth an initial £65m, with another £5m available in add-ons.
But supporters have already been given a glimpse of Baleba’s new number.
Carlos Baleba is set to wear No. 20 for Manchester United.
Carlos Baleba gets familiar shirt number
According to Sam C on X, United have handed Baleba the No.20 shirt. The midfielder is no stranger to the number, having worn it during the early part of his Brighton career.
Baleba took No.20 after joining Brighton in 2023 and kept it through the 2024/25 season. The season saw him establish himself as one of the Premier League’s most promising defensive midfielders.
Subsequently, Baleba changed his shirt to No.17 last summer. Now, he is set to wear the No. 20 at Old Trafford.
The No. 20 has been previously worn by some of the club’s icons in past years. Robin van Persie wore it in his iconic first season. Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also wore it, while it was last worn by Diogo Dalot before his switch to No.2.
For United, the number won’t be the main talking point once the transfer is officially confirmed. The bigger interest will be in what Baleba can bring to Michael Carrick’s midfield after a disappointing opening-day defeat to Hull City.
