Manchester United have reached an agreement with Brentford to sign forward Bryan Mbeumo.
After weeks of negotiations, a deal worth up to £71million ($95.5m) has finally been struck. It comprises an initial £65m, to be paid in four instalments, plus a maximum of £6m in bonuses.
It is expected that Mbeumo will undergo a medical this weekend ahead of completing his move to Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old prioritised United over all other clubs if he was to leave Brentford and his transfer is now in the process of being finalised.
The Athletic reported on July 17 that United stepped up their efforts to bring Mbeumo to the club with an offer of £65m plus £5m in add-ons.
Brentford had been looking to obtain a fee that exceeds the £62.5m United paid Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Matheus Cunha earlier this window. United’s initial proposal of £45m plus £10m in add-ons was rejected, while a second offer of £55m plus £7.5m in bonuses was also turned down.
The Athletic reported last month that Mbeumo had informed Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur, who held an interest in the winger, of his decision to sign for United if he makes a transfer this summer.
Arsenal and Newcastle United also previously held an interest in Mbeumo, though he wanted to join United, as first reported by The Athletic on June 2.
The Cameroonian is set to become United’s third signing of the summer after completing deals for Cunha and teenage full-back Diego Leon, who joined from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno.
Mbeumo featured in all 38 Premier League games in the 2024-25 season, scoring 20 goals and providing eight assists as Brentford finished 10th.
He came through the academy at French club Troyes and joined Brentford in 2019, helping the club achieve promotion to the top flight in 2021. He has made 242 appearances for Brentford, recording 70 goals and 51 assists in all competitions.
‘A proven Premier League talent’
Analysis by Jay Harris
Mbeumo has developed from a talented but frustrating winger into a consistent goal threat during his time at Brentford.
He has played in multiple positions across the front line, including as a support striker to Ivan Toney in a front two, but has produced his best performances on the right wing.
Mbeumo likes to cut inside onto his left foot to shoot or whip crosses into the box. When Thomas Frank was in charge of Brentford, he occasionally deployed Mbeumo as an aggressive right wing-back when they were losing games.
During Brentford’s first season in the Premier League, Mbeumo only scored four times from an xG of 9.5 and hit the woodwork seven times. He was guilty of being erratic and making the wrong decisions in front of goal.
Through hard work on the training ground, he has developed into an excellent finisher. During the 2023-24 season, Mbeumo scored seven goals and registered four assists in 15 games before he suffered ankle ligament damage which required surgery in a defeat to Brighton. The Cameroon international bounced back last season and scored 20 times in the league.
Mbeumo has an excellent penalty record too and has only missed one of the 12 he has taken for Brentford. He makes selfless runs for the team and works hard out of possession. His availability is another encouraging sign for United because he has only missed 16 games across four seasons in the top-flight with Brentford.
United are signing a proven Premier League talent who has worked hard for and deserves an opportunity at a bigger club. Brentford will be sad to lose him, but they have been in this position multiple times before with the departures of Christian Eriksen, Ivan Toney and David Raya. They will take comfort in the fact that Mbeumo has doubled their previous club-record sale which was set when Toney moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli last year for £33.6m.
(Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
