Carlos Baleba’s new shirt number has been confirmed after he sealed a £70million transfer from Brighton to Manchester United.
The Cameroonian midfielder has been of interest to United for some time, and their protracted attempts to sign him have finally come to fruition.
After trying and failing to bring him to Old Trafford last summer, United went back in for the player and tempted him to Old Trafford, agreeing a deal comprising of a £65m up-front fee and £5m in add-ons. He has signed a five-year deal with an option for a further season.
His signing caps United’s summer midfield overhaul, which has already seen Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans join the club in buys worth £50m and £35m, respectively.
The new-look midfield flattered to deceive as it fell to a 2-0 defeat at Hull in its first Premier League outing of the season, but they will hope to impress with the addition of Baleba as Ipswich visit Manchester this weekend.
What shirt number will Baleba wear for Man Utd?
Manchester United have confirmed Baleba will wear the No20 shirt.
He directly inherits the shirt from the Portuguese full-back Diogo Dalot, who left it vacant after the 2024/25 campaign to take the No2 shirt.
In taking on the No20, Baleba will follow in the footsteps of some Man United legends.
Carlos wears 20.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 25, 2026
Get the look 🛒⬇️
Robin van Persie wore it throughout his stint with the club, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also wore it from 1996 through to 2008.
Before him, Gary Neville donned the No20 shirt for the double-winning 1995/96 campaign.
Dion Dublin and Sergio Romero are other United stars to have worn the No20 for the club.
