Manchester United have secured Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford on a five-year contract, with a hefty transfer fee involved.
As a child, Mbeumo wore Manchester United jerseys long before truly understanding football. The club was etched in his heart from a young age. Now, following a dramatic journey in his career and life, he has finally become a player for that dream club. His excitement at signing for Manchester United is sky-high at 25 years old.
Rumors had been swirling in the media for days, and the official announcement came on Monday. Mbeumo left Brentford to join Manchester United.
He spent six years at Brentford, and now he could spend at least six years at United. While his contract is officially for five years, there is an option to extend for an additional year.
The much-discussed transfer fee has been confirmed as true. Manchester United will pay an initial £66 million ($88 million), with an additional £600,000 in add-ons.
Born in France to a Cameroonian father and French mother, Mbeumo played for France’s youth teams up to the U21 level before choosing to represent Cameroon at the senior international level.
He began his football journey in France, joining the youth academy at Tours at age 14, where he developed into a professional footballer.
In 2019, he made a record transfer move to Brentford. Last season, he was one of the stars of Brentford’s impressive Premier League campaign, scoring 20 league goals — the fourth highest in the league.
His performances drew attention from several clubs. Manchester United had been pursuing him for weeks and overcame stiff competition from Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Chelsea. At one point, talks threatened to collapse due to the high price tag.
Ultimately, United won the race, reportedly offering a lucrative salary to secure his signature.
After signing, Mbeumo expressed that his heart was always set on Manchester United.
“As soon as I heard there was a chance to join Manchester United, the dream club, I had to take it. I grew up wearing this club’s jersey,” he said.
“My mindset has always been to improve on yesterday. I’m motivated to reach new heights, learn from coach Huub Stevens, and play alongside world-class players.”
Primarily a right winger, Mbeumo can also play excellently as a central forward. He is expected to wear the Manchester United jersey soon in the club’s pre-season matches in the United States.
