Manchester United have reportedly performed a dramatic U-turn on the £38m signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson following a medical
20:07, 10 Jul 2026Updated 20:45, 10 Jul 2026
Ederson’s move to Manchester United is now reportedly off(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Manchester United have denied claims they have reversed their decision to sign Ederson. United have agreed personal terms with the midfielder and struck a deal with Italian club Atalanta worth up to £38million in early June.
Ederson, 27, has been eager to join the Reds and hinted during the World Cup that the move was all-but confirmed. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed, however, that an underlying knee issue has derailed the transfer following a medical examination in the UK.
Multiple other reports on Friday evening also indicated that the Brazil international will not be heading to Old Trafford. However, the Manchester Evening News understands that the club do not consider the move to be off.
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Ederson had been a summer target for Atletico Madrid, but they turned their attentions to Wolves’ midfielder Joao Gomes instead – though that move for the La Liga side does look to be off. United have scouted Ederson previously during his four years at Atalanta and looked poised to sign him as part of an overhaul of their midfield this summer.
The priority is to sign an elite-level No.6 to replace Casemiro, with Aurelien Tchouameni among the leading targets for that role. United are also edging closer to a £48m deal for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.
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The Brazilian has been cleared for a medical as United’s senior players prepare to return for pre-season training on Thursday, and it goes some way to addressing what has been a major issue.
Manuel Ugarte was set to be sold, but the Uruguay international has been ruled out for an extended period with cruciate ligament damage suffered at the World Cup. The Reds’ hopes of signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest faded when it became apparent it would cost in excess of £110m – a fee the club were unwilling to match.
Manchester United are set to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
United turned their attention to West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, but the Portuguese joined Tottenham Hotspur instead after the north London outfit offered a guaranteed £85m.
With Kobbie Mainoo still at the World Cup with England, United faced opening their pre-season campaign against Wrexham in Helsinki on July 18 with Mason Mount as the only recognised senior midfielder in Michael Carrick’s squad.
Carrick’s side will face Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland, Rosenberg in Trondheim, Norway and Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, Sweden, between July 18 and August 1st.
The friendly with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg, Sweden on August 8 may be a target Ederson and United set when it comes to pulling on the United shirt for the first time. By the time United embark on their Scandinavian pre-season tour, Carrick will certainly be hoping Ederson and Santos can be called upon.
