Updated: 8 Jun 2026 05:29 BST |
4 min read
Manchester United are facing a possible delay to the completion of a €40.5million (£35m) deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta after the midfielder received a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad.
The Red Devils are on the cusp of making Ederson their first summer signing, according to BBC Sport, with the club having planned for the 26-year-old to complete a medical with a view to the transfer being completed in early July before pre-season training begins.
However, United have suffered a setback after Brazil announced Ederson has been now drafted into Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad for the World Cup following an injury sustained to Roma defender Wesley.
A statement from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Sunday revealed the 22-year-old full-back would miss FIFA’s flagship tournament – which gets under way on Thursday – after an “MRI scan revealed a muscle injury to the adductor muscle in his left thigh”.
Ederson, who has won three caps for Brazil, will join up with his team-mates in the United States on Monday ahead of his country’s World Cup opener against Morocco on Saturday, 13 June.
Ancelotti’s side – who are looking to win the World Cup for the first time since 2002 – will also face Haiti on Saturday, 20 June before locking horns with Scotland in their final Group C fixture four days later.
Brazil boss Ancelotti revealed last Friday that Neymar faces a race to be fit in time for the World Cup due to a calf injury, though the Santos forward has remained with the squad in North America.
Ederson helped Atalanta end trophy drought in Europa League
After starting his career with a host of Brazilian clubs including Cruzeiro and Corinthians, Ederson joined Atalanta from fellow Italian side Salernitana in 2022 and has gone on to make 180 appearances for the Bergamo-based side, scoring 16 goals.
Ederson played a significant role in helping Serie A outfit Atalanta win their first trophy since 1963 when defeating Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final in Dublin, Ireland.
Meanwhile United are continuing to run the rule over several midfielders as part of a planned revamp in that area of the pitch, with BBC Sport claiming Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba are among their targets.
Separate reports in The Times and The Athletic also understand United are interested in signing Mateus Fernandes following West Ham United’s relegation from the Premier League, though Michael Carrick’s side face stiff competition from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
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