Bryan Mbeumo has officially joined Manchester United from Brentford in a deal worth an initial £65 million, with a further £6 million in potential add-ons. The 25-year-old winger has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of an additional year.
Mbeumo becomes United manager Ruben Amorim’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of forward Matheus Cunha and left-back Diego Leon. His transfer concludes one of the window's longest-running sagas, with United's pursuit beginning in early June.
United’s third bid worth £65 million upfront was accepted last week, seven weeks after their initial £55 million offer was tabled. A second bid of £62.5 million was also rejected before the breakthrough came.
Speaking after completing the move, Mbeumo expressed his excitement and sense of fulfillment.
> “As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take it. This is the club of my dreams the team whose shirt I wore growing up,” he said.
> “My mentality is always to improve on yesterday. I know I have the character to reach new levels here, learning from Ruben Amorim and competing alongside world-class players.
> Everyone has told me about the exciting environment being built here and the plans for the future. This is a massive club, with an amazing stadium and incredible fans. We are all focused on challenging for the biggest trophies.”
Mbeumo departs Brentford after a highly productive six-year spell, having joined the club from Troyes in 2019. He scored 70 goals and contributed 51 assists in 242 appearances for the Bees. Last season, he delivered his most impressive campaign yet, scoring 20 goals and recording seven assists in the Premier League both personal bests.
United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, praised the winger’s consistency and ambition:
> “Bryan’s goal and assist numbers in the Premier League speak for themselves. His consistency over the past three seasons has placed him among the most productive attacking players in England.
> His desire to join us and belief in our project made it clear he was the right fit for Manchester United and the culture we’re building.”
The transfer also sets a new record for Brentford, eclipsing the £40 million fee received from Al-Ahli for Ivan Toney in August 2024.
Bees director of football Phil Giles paid tribute to Mbeumo’s impact:
> “Bryan joined us as a teenager, and it's been a pleasure watching him grow into the player and person he is today. He’s been central to many of our greatest moments, and our fans have loved him.
> There’s always a right time for a player to move on, and for Bryan, that time is now. He’s earned the chance to join one of the biggest clubs in the world, and we’re genuinely happy for him.”
Mbeumo, who will wear the No. 19 shirt at United, is expected to travel with the squad for their pre-season tour of the United States on Tuesday.
Mbeumo recorded career best figures in the Premier League last season for virtually every attacking metric, including goals and assists, chances created and touches in the opposition box.
With a shot conversion rate of 23.53%, only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Newcastle United's Alexander Isak were more clinical in front of goal.
Inside the Deal: How United Beat Rivals to Land Mbeumo
Bringing Bryan Mbeumo to Old Trafford wasn’t straightforward. Negotiations between Manchester United and Brentford were tense, with the Premier League giants growing increasingly frustrated over what they saw as shifting demands from the London club. United believed the asking price for Mbeumo changed multiple times and that talks dragged on far longer than necessary.
Behind the scenes, Brentford were hoping to steer the 25-year-old towards Tottenham or Newcastle, who they believed were willing to pay more. Spurs, in particular, were seen as strong contenders—not least because their new manager, Thomas Frank, had previously worked with Mbeumo and knew Brentford’s expectations inside out. Brentford reportedly valued Mbeumo at significantly more than United’s early bid of around £45 million.
At one point, United’s refusal to meet Brentford’s £70 million asking price (plus £7 million in add-ons) led to a cheeky suggestion from the Bees’ side: maybe Mbeumo should lower his personal wage demands to help bridge the gap. That wasn’t necessary in the end. All parties eventually found common ground, and the deal was sealed for an initial £65 million, rising to £71 million with add-ons.
For United, landing Mbeumo is a major win—especially considering the competition. Club insiders believed Tottenham and Newcastle were serious contenders, while Arsenal and Chelsea were also monitoring the situation closely.
Ultimately, United’s negotiating team, led by technical director Jason Wilcox, got their man. It's a significant achievement for a club that finished 15th last season and can't offer Champions League football—unlike most of their rivals in the race.
There’s still more work to do before the transfer window shuts on September 1. The futures of four out-of-favour players remain unresolved, and Marcus Rashford’s impending move to Barcelona is close to being finalised.
But for now, United can take satisfaction in delivering manager Ruben Amorim’s two key targets. Securing Mbeumo, in particular, reinforces the belief that United remain a club top players still want to join—even without European football on offer.
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