Ederson's £38m move to Manchester United is in limbo. Transfer correspondent Fabrizio Romano declared the deal 'first signing: 100% confirmed' on June 6. Less than four weeks later, he revised that: the deal is 'still not confirmed' pending a second medical examination in England. Atalanta agreed the €45m package (€40.5m guaranteed, €4.5m in bonuses), but medical uncertainty now threatens to unravel what appeared settled.
Medical uncertainty halts Ederson move
A Manchester United source told TEAMtalk the move remains "very much in place and still on," emphasizing the club's commitment to completing the deal. Yet the trajectory has shifted unmistakably. From Romano's unqualified June declaration to his July revision, the language reveals the true state: pending, uncertain, conditional.
Ederson, 27, underwent preliminary medical work in the US as part of Atalanta's pre-sale protocols. That initial examination flagged concerns substantial enough to warrant a second round of checks, now scheduled for England with Manchester United's own medical staff. Romano explained the logic: "Ederson will undergo a medical this week at Manchester United. There will be Ederson taking a medical in the UK, because Man United made the first check in the US, and they want to do more checks with their own staff in England."
The shift from "100% confirmed" to "awaiting medical" mirrors a familiar pattern in modern football. Contracts can be signed, fees negotiated, personal terms locked—and the player purchase still remains contingent on medical clearance. For a 27-year-old midfielder coming off five recent Europa League appearances (averaging a 7.3 rating), Manchester United's caution is defensible. The concern is legitimate enough that it outweighs the momentum of a publicly confirmed deal.
This delay arrives at a critical moment. Manchester United finished the 2025-26 season in third place with 71 points, and recent form (WWDWW across the last five Premier League matches) suggested Carrick's midfield might stabilize. But injuries and summer departures have exposed fragility. Ederson was meant to address that. Instead, his medical holds everything in suspension.
The recruitment shortfall reshaping Carrick's rebuild
The Ederson delay compounds a wider recruitment crisis. Manchester United's top midfield targets have vanished into rivals' ranks. Elliot Anderson moved to Manchester City for £116m—Carrick's most coveted option. Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham for £100m. Mateus Fernandes also went to Spurs, for £85m.
The price disparity is striking. City, Spurs, and other elite clubs spent freely on proven or semi-proven talent. Manchester United, constrained by financial and institutional limits, has settled on two backups: Ederson at €45m and Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m.
Santos' deal is done—medical scheduled Thursday, per ESPN Brasil—but his profile offers no reassurance. The 23-year-old has only 13 Premier League starts from 111 career appearances. That's less than 12% of his competitive football at elite level. He arrives as a developmental prospect, not a solution.
Contrast that to Aurelien Tchouameni, who signed a new Real Madrid contract through 2031 this summer. Tchouameni accumulated 317 first-team appearances across his career—nearly three times Santos' total—before committing his future to Madrid. His availability removal from the market underscores the gap between the midfielder Carrick wanted and the one he inherits. Manchester United must rebuild with youth and potential because experience and quality proved out of reach.
If Ederson passes the England medical, Manchester United completes its primary midfield move and must develop Santos as a long-term asset. If he fails, a summer that has already lost Anderson, Tonali, and Fernandes to rivals forces Carrick into even costlier desperation.
FAQ
Why did Ederson's Manchester United deal stall?
Ederson underwent medical checks in the US that raised concerns. Manchester United requested a second examination in England with their own medical staff. The deal remains on but is awaiting the England medical's clearance. Transfer correspondent Fabrizio Romano initially called the deal '100% confirmed' in June but later reported it is 'still not confirmed' pending this second evaluation.
Is Ederson's Manchester United transfer off?
No. A Manchester United source told TEAMtalk the deal is 'very much in place and still on.' The €45m package with Atalanta (€40.5m guaranteed, €4.5m in bonuses) has been agreed. The transfer awaits only medical clearance in England before completion.
Why is Andrey Santos Manchester United's backup midfielder?
Manchester United missed its top midfield targets. Elliot Anderson moved to Manchester City for £116m, Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham for £100m, and Mateus Fernandes also went to Spurs for £85m. With proven options gone, United signed Santos from Chelsea for £50m. At 23, Santos has only 13 Premier League starts from 111 career appearances—a developmental prospect rather than an established player.
How does Andrey Santos compare to experienced midfielders?
Santos has played only 13 Premier League matches in his career. By contrast, Aurelien Tchouameni, who just extended his Real Madrid contract, accumulated 317 first-team appearances. Tchouameni's continued availability at Madrid underscores the experience gap Santos must bridge as he arrives at Manchester United.
What is Manchester United's midfield strategy now?
After losing top targets to rivals, Michael Carrick must rebuild with younger, less proven talent. Andrey Santos arrives from Chelsea with limited Premier League experience. Ederson's signing awaits medical clearance. This recruitment strategy prioritizes potential over proven quality—a gamble Carrick must oversee.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →