Manchester United have agreed a deal to make Ederson the first signing of the Michael Carrick era at Old Trafford, with our writers now giving their verdicts.
Ederson is set to join Manchester United for £34.5m this summer to start the midfield rebuild which has been years in the making.
United will then pay a further £3.5m in add-ons which are expected to be performance based. After the Ederson deal United still have plenty to spend on further arrivals.
The deal has seen United fans mixed reactions given he isn’t the biggest name. But experts suggest Ederson could shock everyone.
Here is how United in Focus writers have reacted to the deal being agreed pending medical.
What is your INSTANT REACTION to Manchester United’s deal for Ederson?
Vatsal Gupta
“Generally, you have to play down fans’ expectations when a new signing is announced, but Ederson’s case is different. A midfield rebuild that was promised to be marquee has kicked off with a rotation player who didn’t even make the Brazil squad. That’s no fault of Ederson, and could actually even work in his favour.
“He has two things in his game which almost always translate, regardless of the team and the league – ability to cover ground and staying injury-free. United’s midfield needs legs, and Ederson is a true engine.
“People’s low expectations mean that a single good game will see him get pumped up, like Senne Lammens after he succeeded Onana, and that leads to a virtuous cycle. I’m quietly optimistic that he will be a great addition to the side that will have to play four competitions next season.
“People want a marquee man, but Kobbie Mainoo IS a marquee man, and Ederson is the perfect partner for him.”
Dan Coombs
“I like Ederson a lot, he really impressed me during Atalanta’s Europa League winning run. This is a really sensible deal in terms of his ability and price. He clearly won’t be the only arrival either. What I like most is that the deal has been agreed early, and he will be available to start right away for pre-season. Considering all of our starting midfielders are away at the World Cup or gone (Casemiro), it’s vital to have Ederson in from day one.”
Now the Ederson deal is agreed… WHO SHOULD BE MAN UTD’S NEXT TARGET?
Let us know who should be signing number two…
Dale O’Donnell
“Initially, I’m wary of the signing. United have a poor track record of buying from Serie A, but if Ederson is one of two or three midfield additions, he’ll get time to acclimatise to the Premier League.
“Ederson’s physicality should suit English football, the question is whether he has the technical ability required to match it? The pace of the Premier League is another major factor.
“The Brazilian international wasn’t everyone’s first choice; however, that will quickly be forgotten if he complements Michael Carrick’s team.
“As a dynamic box-to-box midfielder, Ederson gives Carrick something different, especially since United lacked a player of this specific profile last season. The team desperately needs a midfielder who can cover ground, protect the defence, and drive attacking transitions.
“Ederson has my support, as will be the case for every new signing this summer.”
Sean Fisher
“A steady signing. Ineos deserve some trust in transfers after getting it spot on last summer, and they moved quickly for Ederson, which gives me confidence that they have seen something they like.
“There is no denying that Ederson isn’t the flashy midfielder we were dreaming of, but this squad needs depth and physicality, and that is what Ederson will provide. From what I’ve seen, he covers ground brilliantly, dominates duels and gets the basics right as a box-to-box midfielder. For £38m, I’m happy with this deal. He has Champions League experience, a brilliant injury record, and he fills a profile in this squad that we have been lacking.
“However, this deal will only be considered as smart business if Ineos go and secure a marquee signing (Tonali, Ederson, Baleba) that will be the first-choice partner to Mainoo. Ederson cannot be our only answer to replacing Casemiro.”
Who has been Man Utd’s BEST and WORST signing in the £31m-40m price range? How will Ederson compare?
Adnan Riaz
“We’ve been linked with Ederson for some time and it does not surprise me that we finally landed him. However, it is more around the fact that he is Manchester United’s first major summer signing for Michael Carrick — that was not on the 2026 bingo card.
“I am all for Ederson, even if I do feel that we have been burned by past Serie A transfers like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. It feels like Ederson is a natural fit for Carrick and we are long overdue for an entire Man Utd midfield rebuild.
“He might not start every match alongside Kobbie Mainoo, but we need midfield strength for all the competitions that we are in next season. I really like his physicality on the ball and he feels like a major upgrade on Manuel Ugarte, who should be sold this summer.”
Jonny Maze
“The Ederson signing is one I’ve never been completely convinced on, primarily due to reservations over the Serie A generally, as we have been stung by imports from the league recently with Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund.
“But having accepted this was going to happen, I have watched a handful of games and spoken with an Italian football expert about Ederson and with more knowledge it’s now a deal I am delighted with.
“£34.5m for a player like Ederson is as good a deal as we will find in this market and off the bench he has the engine and final third goal threat to be a brilliant signing for the club.”
“Hopefully, the low expectations help him succeed. He will also be better received if we go and bring in two more midfielders who are on paper better. But it’s overall a good deal.”
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