Michael Carrick has been confirmed as Manchester United's permanent manager, and his first major statement of intent is imminent. The club are in the final stages of negotiating a deal with Atalanta for their Brazilian midfielder Ederson, with a fee in the region of £35 million plus £3 million in add-ons close to being agreed. Ederson himself has already given the move his full backing — personal terms are understood to have been agreed, and the player has paused talks with other interested clubs to prioritise Old Trafford. For a squad that badly needs quality and energy in the centre of midfield, the signing would represent exactly the kind of pragmatic, high-value recruitment that Carrick has been associated with throughout his managerial career.
Who Is Ederson?
Not to be confused with Manchester City's goalkeeper of the same name, this Ederson is a central midfielder — full name Ederson Lourenço da Silva — who has been one of the most consistently impressive players in Serie A over the past three seasons. Born in Brazil in 2000, he joined Atalanta's academy system and has since become a cornerstone of their engine room under Gian Piero Gasperini's system. He combines the physicality needed to dominate in European football with a technical quality that allows him to operate comfortably in tight areas. He won the Serie A title with Atalanta last season and has been capped for the Brazil national team. At 25, he is entering what should be his peak years.
What He Gives Carrick
United's midfield was one of the most scrutinised areas of the squad during the turbulent 2025-26 campaign. The combination of a high-turnover managerial situation and inconsistent performances in the engine room left the team vulnerable and unstructured. Carrick, who was one of the finest midfielders of his generation, knows exactly what United need in that area. Ederson's ability to press without the ball, screen the defence, and drive forward with the ball into advanced positions makes him the type of complete midfielder the club has been lacking since the peak years of Casemiro. A £38 million deal for a player of this profile represents serious value at current market rates.
Carrick's Broader Summer Plans
Ederson is expected to be the first of several arrivals at Old Trafford this summer. Carrick has been given a transfer budget that, including the proceeds from outgoing sales, could reach £150 million. A wide forward, a centre-back, and potentially a right-back are also on the wishlist. The manager has already spoken privately about the need to bring in players who share his work ethic and attitude, rather than chasing big names for the sake of headlines. Ederson, who turned down higher-profile approaches to make this move work, fits that blueprint exactly. The rebuilding of Manchester United under Carrick begins in earnest this summer.
Transfer context: Ederson (Ederson Lourenço da Silva), 25, Brazilian central midfielder. At Atalanta since 2019. Expected fee: £35m + £3m add-ons. Michael Carrick confirmed as Man Utd permanent manager after interim spell. United finished outside European places in 2025-26.
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