Since his arrival at Manchester United on July 13, 2026, Andrey Santos has faced challenges establishing himself within the first team. The 22-year-old moved from Chelsea in a deal valued at £48m, signing a contract running until June 2031, which includes an option to extend for a further 12 months (BBC Sport). Upon his arrival, Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox stated, "Andrey is an outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch."
However, analysis as of September 14, 2026, indicates the midfielder has struggled for regular minutes under manager Michael Carrick. After starting in the opening-day defeat to Hull City, Santos has been demoted to the substitutes' bench and has found himself behind players such as Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans in the squad pecking order (FootballTransfers). According to reporting, the Brazilian has featured for only 42 minutes across the club's last four matches (FootballTransfers).
