Manchester United
Manchester United suffer opening-day setback at Hull City
United’s season began with a 2-0 defeat at Hull, exposing familiar defensive flaws on opening day.
Manchester United began the new Premier League season with a damaging 2-0 defeat away to Hull City, a result that quickly turned their opener into a sobering test of how much progress has really been made.
Michael Carrick responded at halftime by sending on Marcus Rashford, but the introduction of United’s new No.9 did not alter the flow of the contest. Hull remained the sharper side for long stretches, while Konstantinos Tzolakis was rarely required to intervene as United struggled to create clear openings.
The first half effectively decided the match. Hull produced a five-minute spell of pressure that exposed United’s defensive weaknesses, with repeated deliveries into the area forcing several saves from Senne Lammens before Ajayi converted after Oli McBurnie’s effort was kept out. Crosses continued to trouble United, just as they had in the final preseason loss to Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan, and Hull showed no hesitation in targeting that area again.
United’s centre-backs, Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven, were unable to deal consistently with the service coming into the box, while another set-piece moment before the interval ended with Mendy heading Hull further ahead. The problem was not only the defending in those moments, but the lack of structure around United’s penalty area.
The club’s summer work has focused heavily on midfield additions, yet this match raised fresh doubts about the balance of the defence. Hull were not especially dominant in possession, but they were efficient and organised, and United never looked capable of recovering once the damage had been done.
The performance left United with a stark opening-day reminder that last season’s resurgence offers little protection if the same weaknesses continue to surface.
Championship
PFA Awards 2026: Fernandes and Shaw lead the honours
Fernandes and Shaw headlined the 2026 PFA Awards after standout seasons in England.
The 53rd PFA Awards took place on Tuesday night at the Manchester Opera House, with the game’s leading players across England recognised for their 2025-26 seasons. The ceremony covered the Premier League, the EFL Championship, League One and Two, the Women’s Super League and the Women’s Super League 2.
Bruno Fernandes claimed the men’s Player of the Year award after a remarkable campaign for Manchester United. The midfielder set a Premier League record with 21 assists in a single season, and he became the first United player since Wayne Rooney in 2010 to win the prize.
In the women’s category, Manchester City forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw was voted Player of the Year for a second time. Shaw scored 21 goals in 22 matches last season and played a key role as City won the title. Her recognition completed a double after she was also named women’s Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association in May.
Fernandes also completed a double of his own after being selected as men’s Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association in May.
City youngster Nico O’Reilly, 21, received the men’s Young Player of the Year award, while Arsenal forward Olivia Smith, 22, won the women’s Young Player of the Year honour for the second straight season.
Elsewhere, former Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, now with Everton, was named Championship Player of the Year. Birmingham City forward Lily Crosthwaite collected the WSL2 Player of the Year award, while former Leyton Orient forward Dom Ballard, now at Championship side Bristol City, was named League One Player of the Year.
The event also included the Premier League, WSL, Championship, League One and WSL2 Teams of the Year, with the full line-ups listed separately.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Carlos Baleba deal reshapes Manchester United’s midfield options
Baleba arrives at United, giving Carrick more midfield balance and sharpening the race for places.
Carlos Baleba’s move from Brighton & Hove Albion has brought Manchester United’s midfield rebuild to a close, at least on paper. The 22-year-old was already a familiar target to supporters after United’s interest in him was heavily reported last year, but Brighton’s valuation dropped sharply after a difficult 2025-26 campaign. What once looked like a potential $136.4 million (£100 million) move has ended at $88.7 million (£65 million).
There were reasons for the downturn. Baleba’s year was affected by transfer noise and what Cameroon manager David Pagou described as “family problems”. United will be hoping the midfielder who impressed so strongly in the Premier League two seasons ago returns, because Michael Carrick still wanted more steel in the centre of the pitch despite the additions already made this summer. Their season opener underlined that point, with United being ”mauled by the Tigers” at Hull City.
One clear beneficiary is Youri Tielemans, whose $47.7 million release clause was triggered by United earlier in the window. His passing range, composure and creativity should help the team’s progression and eventually ease Bruno Fernandes’ burden. Yet Tielemans also has obvious limitations athletically, and Baleba appears tailored to cover that gap. The Cameroonian is effective in transition, quick across the ground and strong without the ball. Opta recorded him at 34.5 km/h in 2024-25, the 10th highest among nominal defensive and central midfielders.
Kobbie Mainoo may feel the squeeze in terms of competition, but he is still expected to play a major role. After a delayed start to the campaign, he is working back into rhythm following a summer in which he did not feature in preseason and played only 19 minutes at Hull. Carrick values him highly, though Baleba could prove an ideal partner by masking some of Mainoo’s defensive inexperience.
Andrey Santos is another midfielder whose role may be affected. Baleba shares several traits with him, though Santos brings greater assurance in build-up play. Still, the recruitment leaves Carrick with far more solutions, and more pressure to use them well. United are back in the Champions League, and their midfield now looks better equipped for the demands ahead.
Carlos Baleba
Baleba Deal Shows Why Manchester United Waited
Manchester United have landed Baleba, but fitness doubts, valuation and squad balance still define the deal.
Manchester United have completed their fourth first-team signing of the summer by bringing in Carlos Baleba, following Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow to Old Trafford.
The midfielder has signed a contract through the summer of 2031, with the club holding an option for an additional year. He is available for selection immediately and could make his debut at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday, though that remains uncertain after an ankle injury kept him out of Brighton’s preseason and their Premier League opener against Aston Villa. His last appearance came against United on May 24, so his match sharpness is in question.
United still needed a clearer answer in midfield despite already landing Santos and Tielemans, both of whom started the opening Premier League defeat to Hull City. With Casemiro gone, the squad had lacked a true like-for-like alternative. Baleba offers something different: an athletic, disruptive presence who should restore balance to the centre of the pitch.
Depth has also improved. Michael Carrick now has five options for two central midfield places in Baleba, Santos, Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Tyler Fletcher. In the second half of last season, Casemiro and Mainoo played almost every minute together, while Manuel Ugarte provided the main cover before his injury.
Reports indicate United will pay $88.7 million (£65 million) up front, with a further $6.8 million (£5 million) in conditional add-ons. That would take the full value to $95.5 million (£70 million), making Baleba the seventh-most expensive signing in club history.
That figure looks very different from the price Brighton set when United first showed interest a year ago. At the time, Baleba was coming off a breakout season and Brighton were asking for about $136.4 million (£100 million). At that level, he would have overtaken Paul Pogba as the club’s record signing rather than arriving just ahead of Benjamin Šeško.
United have also avoided matching the heavy spending seen elsewhere, and the decision not to force a move for Baleba last summer now appears well judged. With the transfer window closing on Sept. 1, the midfield rebuild is complete, but there are still other areas that need attention.
Left back remains short on cover. Luke Shaw played every Premier League match last season, which was manageable when the campaign was limited to 40 games. That burden will increase in 2026-27, and with Patrick Dorgu mainly seen as a winger, support is still required. Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall would have been an ideal fit, but Matthias Jaissle has said there is “no chance” he will be sold.
