Matheus

Man Utd sign Brazilian international forward on five-year deal as coach Ruben Amorim makes first big move.

Manchester United have completed the signing of Brazil international Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers as the fallen Premier League giants begin their rebuild

The 26-year-old forward, who has scored once in 15 appearances for Brazil, signed a five-year contract to 2030 at Old Trafford with the option of a further 12 months, the club said on Thursday.

United paid a reported 62.5 million pounds ($84m) to their fellow English top-flight club for Cunha.

United coach Ruben Amorim is expected to overhaul his squad after a woeful season, and Cunha’s is the first major transfer for the Portuguese since he replaced Erik ten Hag in November.

Cunha scored 17 goals for Wolves last season while the United attack had the fifth worst scoring record in the Premier League last term.

“Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother’s house, United was my favourite English team, and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt,” Cunha said.

“All my focus is now on working hard to become a valuable part of the team and helping get this club back to the top.”

United were 15th in the league standings, their worst position since the Premier League era began in 1992. It also had its most losses in a Premier League season and recorded its lowest points total.

The joint record 20-time English champions have gone 12 years without the title since last winning it in former manager Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2013.

“Bringing in Matheus was one of our main priorities for this summer, so we are delighted to have completed his signing so early in the window,” said Jason Wilcox, United director of football.

“He has proved his ability to succeed in the Premier League as one of the most exciting and productive forwards in England during his time at Wolves and before that in Spain and Germany.

“He has all the qualities we are looking for as we seek to build a strong, dynamic and entertaining team capable of challenging for the biggest honours.”

As well as Cunha, United are also interested in Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.

The clubs are believed to be in negotiations over a fee for the Cameroonian international.

✍️ It just looks right. pic.twitter.com/2eI1rhTZ1l

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 12, 2025

Amorim was adamant in Hong Kong that United could work around Fernandes staying at Old Trafford from a financial point of view.

However, the situation is not straightforward.

With no European football of any sort next season, finances will be tight. Amorim has already said he can operate with a smaller squad given there are fewer matches, so sales are inevitable.

Broadly speaking, there are three categories.

Players Amorim just does not want – so the likes of Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

Players who have struggled and it would make sense to sell – Hojlund and Zirkzee fit into this group, as does Casemiro.

Then, the bulk are players who have something to offer and United would be open to keeping but would let go if the right bid came in.

Yet the major issue around all of this is how long would it take to do a deal and how much would it cost?

Take Sancho for example.

It has been established Chelsea would have signed him on reduced terms, which he was not prepared to accept.

If a Premier League club that has just qualified for the Champions League are baulking at Sancho’s wages, it is fair to assume most other clubs will reach the same conclusion.

If Sancho refuses to drop his demands and Amorim wants him out, United will have to negotiate some kind of compromise.

This puts them back in the uncomfortable position of paying a player to play for a rival. It is the kind of situation minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe finds so irritating and wants to end.

Yet, when you take a realistic approach to Sancho, Antony and Rashford in particular, it is hard to see how that situation is avoided. The same could also be said of many United players who remained at the club last season.

The matches may have finished but for United technical director Jason Wilcox and chief negotiator Matt Hargreaves, the hard work is just beginning.

It is how well they do, getting players in and out, that will determine how much progress Amorim can be expected to make.

Manchester United have agreed a deal with Wolves for the signing of Brazil striker Matheus Cunha.

The 26-year-old is set to become United’s first signing of the summer after the club activated a £62.5m release clause in Cunha’s Wolves contract.

The former Atletico Madrid forward will sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford, with the option of a further 12 months.

Cunha was in Manchester over the weekend to complete a medical with the club.

The deal, which is subject to visa approval and registration procedures, is expected to be completed once Cunha returns from international duty with Brazil later this month.

The forward has scored 31 goals in 76 appearances since completing a permanent move to Wolves in 2023.

While Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are all planning for next season’s Champions League, United are unable to offer new recruits any European football – let alone a place in Europe’s premier club competition.

Indeed, it is now more than three years since United last played a Champions League knockout tie.

Despite a lowly league finish and absence of European football next season, BBC Sport understands Cunha still views United as a big club – and that the player does not look at it as a risk.

Instead Cunha, who turned 26 on Tuesday and is in peak form, is excited by the enormous challenge of reviving United’s fortunes.

There is a feeling the move makes sense for all parties.

Cunha wants to move to a so-called bigger club, while Wolves get more than £60m to reinvest.

Meanwhile, Wolves have already showed they can win matches without Cunha after securing 10 points from the four Premier League games he missed through suspension following a red card against Bournemouth in the FA Cup in March.

United, who are set to allow England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho to leave this summer, need to boost the options available to boss Ruben Amorim.

His side managed just 44 top-flight goals in 2024-25 – a club-record low in the Premier League era. Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap, external and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo have also been linked.

Cunha has 27 goals in 65 Premier League appearances over the past two seasons and is regarded at United as someone who can make an instant impact, while at the same time add experience to the team.

“United are lucky they still have their historic appeal and reputation as a club, so players of the Brazilian’s quality and potential want to move there,” former England midfielder Fara Williams told BBC Sport.

“If he does, there is no doubt he improves the squad.”

Wolves are set to reject Manchester United’s proposal to pay Matheus Cunha’s £62.5m release clause over five years.

BBC Sport understands Wolves expect United to honour the clause, which requires the full fee for the Brazil forward to be paid in three instalments during a two-year period.

Talks are ongoing and the transfer is still expected to be completed.

United are understood to be relaxed about the situation and believe the deal will be concluded soon.

Cunha, 26, has made 92 appearances since arriving at Wolves, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid in January 2023, scoring 33 goals for the club.