Baleba leads five major Cameroon moves of summer 2026

The summer transfer window brought significant changes for several Cameroon internationals, with Carlos Baleba’s move to Manchester United standing out as the headline deal. Nathan Ngoumou, Enzo Tchato, Junior Dina Ebimbe and Danny Namaso also changed clubs as they looked to advance or revive their careers.

Baleba completes Manchester United move

Baleba had established himself as a key player at Brighton, making 112 appearances in three seasons, including 31 Premier League games last term. However, after Brighton finished eighth and the midfielder suffered a minor ankle injury in pre-season, the 22-year-old decided the time was right for a new challenge.

Manchester United had been tracking him since summer 2024, but Brighton’s £100m valuation had previously prevented a deal. This time, the clubs agreed a fee of £65m plus £5m in bonuses. Baleba has signed a contract at Old Trafford until 2031, with the option of an additional year.

It is the most expensive transfer involving a Cameroon player. He joins Manchester United as part of the club’s rebuilding plans alongside Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, following Casemiro’s departure for Miami. Former Cameroon U23 international Eric Lobe provided analysis of the move.

Ngoumou seeks fresh start at Nice

Nathan Ngoumou’s spell at Borussia Monchengladbach was badly disrupted by an Achilles tendon injury suffered against St Pauli on 6 April 2025. The injury ruled him out for the whole of the 2025/26 season.

Although his contract ran until June 2027, competition for places meant his future at the club had become uncertain. Sporting director Rouven Schroder explained that Gladbach chose to move on, allowing Nice to secure the 17 August signing on a free transfer, with bonuses and a sell-on percentage. Anderlecht and Auxerre had also shown interest.

Ngoumou scored nine goals in 78 matches for Gladbach. His return to Ligue 1, four years after leaving Toulouse, offers an opportunity to rebuild his career and strengthen his international prospects with Cameroon ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. He has been gaining playing time since the start of the season and appears to have moved beyond the setback.

Tchato leaves Montpellier after 17 years

Enzo Tchato’s departure brought an end to 17 years with Montpellier, where he made around 100 professional appearances. He had featured 29 times during a full Ligue 2 campaign, but the club needed to sell with his contract approaching its final months.

Frosinone, newly promoted to Serie A, moved quickly for the attacking full-back. The clubs reached an agreement on 25 August for €800,000, with Tchato signing a four-year contract until 2030 on improved terms.

The 23-year-old had also been on Blackburn’s shortlist, but chose Italy. Former Cameroon U20 international Etienne Soppo gave his assessment of the transfer.

Dina Ebimbe returns to the Bundesliga

Junior Dina Ebimbe left Eintracht Frankfurt after falling out of favour. Frankfurt had signed him from Paris Saint-Germain for €6.5m after an impressive 2023/24 season, but manager Toppmoller subsequently left him out of the squad.

A loan move to Brest helped him regain match fitness, although the €7m purchase option was not taken up. Schalke 04, back in the Bundesliga, made him a priority and eventually agreed a deal worth €1m initially, plus €600,000 in bonuses and 25% of any future sale.

The 25-year-old has signed until 2028 and is expected to play as a right wing-back, where Schalke will rely on his energy and versatility. Former Tiko Messina forward assessed his return to Germany.

Namaso joins Auxerre on loan

Danny Namaso had been limited to a third-choice attacking role at Porto, despite making promising appearances from the bench. Auxerre were looking for a powerful, hard-working number nine to support their Ligue 1 survival campaign.

Porto agreed to send him to Auxerre on loan with an option to buy, giving him the chance to play more regularly. Namaso, who had long been undecided between representing England and Cameroon, views the move as the most important of his career. It could provide the starting role he has been seeking and open the door fully to the Lions Indomptables.

Baleba is expected to become a midfield leader for Cameroon, while Ngoumou, Tchato, Dina Ebimbe and Namaso face important seasons in their clubs. Former Cameroon U20 Africa Cup of Nations finalist Tiko Messina also commented on Namaso’s move.