Man Utd Transfers 2026/27: Andrey Santos and Tielemans Lead Carrick's Midfield Rebuild — FPL Guide
£83m spent on a brand-new midfield: Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans are in, Casemiro is out. What Manchester United's summer 2026 transfers mean for FPL.
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Manchester United's midfield rebuild is officially underway. With Casemiro released and Rasmus Højlund sold to Napoli for £38m, Michael Carrick has been backed with £83 million of new midfield talent: Andrey Santos from Chelsea (£48m plus £2m add-ons) and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa (£35m).
United finished third last season to return to the Champions League — and their opening fixtures could hardly be kinder: Hull (A) in GW1, then another promoted side in GW2.
Confirmed Man Utd signings — summer 2026
| Player | Position | From | Fee | FPL relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrey Santos | CM | Chelsea | £48m + £2m | High |
| Youri Tielemans | CM | Aston Villa | £35m | High |
| Karl Darlow | GK | Leeds | Free | Low (back-up) |
Key departures: Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, Tyrell Malacia (all released), Rasmus Højlund (£38m, Napoli).
The headline signings, analysed
Andrey Santos — the £48m cornerstone
The 22-year-old Brazilian has signed a five-year deal and immediately becomes central to Carrick's project. Blocked by Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández at Chelsea, Santos still made 27 appearances last season and arrives with Champions League experience plus six Brazil caps.
Santos profiles as the complete modern No.8: ball-winner, carrier and late box-arriver. For FPL, the key stat is opportunity — he goes from squad player at Stamford Bridge to undisputed starter at Old Trafford, in a side whose opening run (Hull away first) screams attacking returns. United's director of football Jason Wilcox called him "an outstanding midfielder with the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch" — music to FPL ears.
Youri Tielemans — proven Premier League output
At 29, Tielemans is the finished article: 134 appearances, 10 goals and 24 assists for Aston Villa, where he scored in their Europa League final win over Freiburg in May and won more tackles (36) than any Villa teammate last season. He arrives fresh from captaining Belgium at the World Cup.
His FPL case rests on three pillars: set-piece involvement, penalty-area late runs, and a history of long-range screamers (his 2021 FA Cup final winner remains iconic). If he takes a share of United's set pieces, he becomes a genuine mid-priced midfield option.
Karl Darlow — squad-depth goalkeeping
The Welsh international joins from Leeds on a free as cover. Not an FPL asset unless injury strikes the No.1.
What it means for FPL managers
- United have the best opening fixtures in the league. Hull (A) — a newly promoted side — is the GW1 target fixture. Stack your attack accordingly.
- Bruno Fernandes owners, hold firm. The record-breaking assister now has two elite runners ahead of him; United's creative ceiling rises.
- Santos and Tielemans are both viable — Santos for ceiling, Tielemans for set-piece floor. Pre-season will reveal who starts.
- Højlund's exit leaves a striker-shaped hole. Watch this space — a forward signing before deadline day looks inevitable, and whoever it is becomes an instant FPL talking point.
FPL verdicts
| Player | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Andrey Santos | BUY/WATCH — starter in waiting |
| Youri Tielemans | WATCH — set-piece dependent |
| Karl Darlow | AVOID |
Bottom line: United's midfield is younger, more mobile and built for Carrick's front-foot game. Santos is the pick of the arrivals for FPL, and that GW1 trip to Hull makes United assets near-mandatory.
Last updated: 17 July 2026.