Brazilian swaps Chelsea blue for Man United red: Andrey Santos unveiled at Old Trafford
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 13.07.26. | 19:02
The 22-year-old midfielder became the 13th player to represent both Premier League giants and the fifth to move directly from Stamford Bridge to the Theatre of Dreams
As of today, Andrey Santos is officially a Manchester United player, after completing a €56.3 million move from Chelsea. He has signed a contract until June 2031, with the option to extend for another year, and will wear No. 17 at his new club.
Dreams do come true.@04Andrey is proof of that 🔏 pic.twitter.com/2ZiSP7y9ai
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 13, 2026
At the same time, the Brazilian became the 13th player to represent both Premier League giants and the fifth to move directly from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford, after Ray Wilkins, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, and Mason Mount.
On their official website, the Red Devils described Santos as a player who "registered the highest pass-completion rate and the most progressive passes per 90 minutes of midfielders under the age of 22 in the Premier League".
The midfielder spent the last season and a half on loan at the French club Strasbourg, where he gained much-needed experience in senior football, and now seems ready for the biggest challenges.
At Old Trafford, he'll fight for a place in the team alongside the aforementioned Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo, while adding depth to Michael Carrick's midfield options.
Santos is a product of Vasco da Gama's academy, having taken his first steps in professional football at the Rio de Janeiro club, before joining the Blues in January 2023.
Besides playing for Vasco, Chelsea, and Strasbourg, the 22-year-old also spent four and a half months on loan at Nottingham Forest, but made only two appearances for the Trees.