Man Utd signs Chelsea's Andrey Santos amid midfield revamp

Manchester United has signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea this summer as part of a significant midfield reinforcement. The Brazilian international was acquired after the club missed out on other priority targets.

Santos initially joined Chelsea in early 2023 from Vasco da Gama, spending time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg before returning to Stamford Bridge. Last season, he made 43 appearances for Chelsea, contributing three goals and four assists, with 25 starts. His performance convinced United to bring him in, filling the void left by Casemiro and joining new signings Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba.

Santos debuted for United in pre-season against Wrexham, showing promise despite a 1-0 defeat. He started the new season alongside Tielemans but was substituted after United's 2-0 loss. Since then, all his appearances have been as a substitute, with the manager preferring a Tielemans-Mainoo partnership.

Manager Michael Carrick has indicated Santos is part of his plans for the season. Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, now at Manchester City, spoke highly of Santos, calling him a "very good guy" who is polite, humble, and hard-working. Maresca previously managed Santos at Chelsea, where the midfielder played 24 games with one goal and five assists.

While not United's first defensive midfield choice, Santos has displayed encouraging signs. His presence is expected to benefit the squad throughout a demanding fixture schedule.