Carlos Baleba is all set to wear a iconic shirt at Manchester United once his highly publicised transfer is completed. The Cameroonian midfielder is very close to completing a move to Old Trafford this summer.
The Red Devils’ search for midfield reinforcements has taken them to Brighton & Hove Albion’s doorsteps this summer. Baleba is a long-term target for INEOS, who attempted to sign him last summer without success.
While the move failed to materialise, United kept their eyes on the 22 year old, who, unfortunately was a shadow of his former self last season. The Red Devils, meanwhile, bolstered their midfield by signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans before the start of the new season.
However, the English giants still lacked steel and drive in the middle of the park, especially following Casemiro’s departure. According to The Peoples Person, they have already secured the services of Baleba to serve that very purpose.
It now appears that the young midfielder has been handed a special shirt number as well.
Baleba to wear iconic shirt
According to the very reliable Sam C, United have handed Baleba the No. 20 shirt. Sharing the news on X, he wrote: “🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Carlos Baleba will wear the No.20 shirt for Manchester United.”
The Cameroonian actually wore the shirt No. 20 after first arriving at the Amex in the summer of 2023. He continued with that number in the 2024/25 season, in which he firmly established himself as one of the finest defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
However, Baleba moved to the No. 17 last summer and had an underwhelming campaign. He ended the season with 35 appearances across competitions.
Carlos Baleba Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 31 | 23 | - | - | 5 | - | 1,662' |
| EFL Cup | 3 | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | 167' |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 62' |
| Total: | 35 | 26 | - | - | 7 | - | 1,891' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
With the player now set to return to his old shirt number, fans will hope he can rediscover the form that earned him admirers at Old Trafford in the first place.
Who was the last United player to wear the No. 20?
Surprisingly, only eight players have donned the No. 20 shirt at Old Trafford in the Premier League era. Perhaps the most famous of them is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the baby faced assassin who ripped apart the opposition and played a huge role in that historic treble.
Fans will also remember another No. 20, Robin van Persie, who arrived from Arsenal in 2012 and guided us to our historic 20th league title. Among other occupants of the famous shirt number are Dion Dublin, Terry Cooke, Gary Neville and Fabio.
The last player to occupy the historic shirt is Diogo Dalot, who wore it from 2018 until last summer, when he shifted to the No. 2 shirt following Victor Lindelof’s departure.
Final Thoughts
As Baleba draws closer to a move to Old Trafford, United fans cannot wait for the club to officially announce his arrival. However, the Cameroonian is currently nursing an injury and may not be seen in action before October.
The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 9/10
Why?
✅ Reported by a source with a strong Manchester United track record.
✅ TPP have already reported that United have secured the player’s signature.
⚠️ No official confirmation from club.
TPP view
We believe that it is quite likely that Baleba will wear the No. 20 shirt at Old Trafford
Featured image Ryan Pierse via Getty Images
