Image source, Getty Images

Mbeumo's departure makes him Brentford's biggest ever sale, eclipsing the £40m paid by Al-Ahli for Ivan Toney in August 2024.

And there was no hard feelings from the club, or director Phil Giles, who posted heartfelt tributes to the forward.

"On behalf of everyone at Brentford, I would like to wish Bryan all the best for the future and thank him for his fantastic efforts over six seasons with us," said Giles.

"Bryan came to us as a teenager, and it has been an absolute pleasure for all of us here to watch him develop as a player and a person. Our fans have loved him, and he has been a part of some of our greatest days.

"There is always a right time for a player to move on and, for Bryan, that time is now. He has the opportunity to go to one of the biggest clubs in the world and we are very happy for him."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter in Chicago

Bryan Mbeumo will travel to Chicago with his new Manchester United team-mates later today, with club officials quietly happy at getting another significant deal over the line.

Although Mbeumo cost £65m, plus potentially another £6m, less than Brentford's desired £70m + £7m but more than United's initial £45m offer, United feel his arrival, coupled with that of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, proves they retain significant appeal despite finishing last season in 15th in the Premier League, their worst performance since the 1973-74 relegation season.

In this instance, United felt not only were Tottenham and Newcastle keen but that Arsenal were interested too and suspected Chelsea were also flexing their muscle by the end.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of how they went about it, United got their man eventually. Considering they finished 15th last season and all the other clubs they felt they were battling with can offer Champions League football in the coming months, that does indeed represent something of a coup for technical director Jason Wilcox and his negotiating team.

There are still deals to be done of course before the window closes on 1 September, not least around the four players who continue to be exiled now Marcus Rashford’s move to Barcelona has all but been confirmed.

However, for now, United can be glad at delivering Ruben Amorim’s two main summer targets, reinforcing their belief the club remains an attractive proposition.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

Across the 2024-25 season, Bryan Mbeumo recorded career-best figures in the Premier League for virtually every attacking metric, including goals and assists, chances created and touches in the opposition box.

Additionally, the 22-cap Cameroon international was clinical: his shot conversion rate of 23.53% was better than the likes of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, while his work out of possession in key areas should also be noted. He won the ball back 32 times in the opposition third, ranking him third of all Premier League players.

But perhaps Mbeumo’s USP is his running threat with the ball at his feet. He was responsible for nine carries of more than five metres which directly ended in a goal being scored in 2024-25 – comfortably the most of any Premier League player last season.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is reportedly keen on joining Sunderland and if he does leave Bayer Leverkusen he would offer one thing the Black Cats sorely lack - Premier League experience.

Just six members of their current squad have played in the English top flight before, with the only players to have started in the competition winger Simon Adingra, who arrived from Brighton this month, and back-up goalkeeper Simon Moore.

Adingra, Moore, Ian Poveda, Patrick Roberts, Leo Hjelde and Niall Huggins boast a combined total of just 85 appearances. Those figures are dwarfed by Xhaka, who has played in 225 Premier League games, including 216 starts. He has also won a record 137 caps for Switzerland, wearing the captain’s armband since 2020.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Talk about contrasting opinions there, gents.

That could start off a whole new debate which unfortunately we don't have time for right now, so instead...

Quick thumbs poll from everyone on this page please.

Who do you think has the better chance of staying up at this moment in time?

Thumbs up for Leeds, thumbs down for Sunderland.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter in Chicago

It is fair to say there were some fraught negotiations to get Bryan Mbeumo's £65m move to Manchester United from Brentford over the line, with neither side particular happy at the other's negotiating tactics.

United felt the price the London club wanted for Mbeumo changed on a number of occasions during discussions, which they believe were dragged out far too long, and that Brentford would have preferred the player to join Tottenham or Newcastle because they would get a bigger fee.

For their part Brentford feel Tottenham were in a strong bargaining position because their new manager Thomas Frank knew exactly what fee they wanted, which was substantially more than United were offering, which initially was around £45m.

At one point, with United refusing to meet Brentford’s demand for an initial £70m, plus an additional £7m in additional payments – they had seen United spend £62.5m on Matheus Cunha and felt they were in a strong position – they cheekily mentioned to Mbeumo he might wish to lower his personal demands to get to the correct figure.

It wasn’t needed in the end and an agreement was reached that allowed all parties to move forward.

Image source, Getty Images

Bryan Mbeumo recorded career-best figures in the Premier League last season for virtually every attacking metric, including goals and assists, chances created and touches in the opposition box.

With a shot conversion rate of 23.53%, only Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak were more clinical in front of goal.

His work out of possession in key areas should also be noted. He won the ball back 32 times in the opposition third, ranking him third out of all Premier League players.

But perhaps Mbeumo's unique selling point is his running threat with the ball at his feet. He was responsible for nine carries of more than five metres which directly ended in a goal being scored in 2024-25 - comfortably the most of any Premier League player last season.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Wish I could reply simply with the side eyes emoji to that post.

Image source, Getty Images

• United's first bid for Mbeumo in June was a £45m offer, with up to £10m in add-ons.
• That was rejected with United making a second bid a few weeks later of more than £60m.
• It was third time lucky for Man Utd as their bid of £65m with £6m in add-ons, was accepted last Thursday.
• The deal finally got confirmed yesterday, with Mbeumo signing a five-year contract, with the option of another year.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport chief football news reporter in Chicago

Manchester United new-boy Bryan Mbeumo has spoken to club media following his £65m arrival from Brentford.

In it, he explains why he enjoys playing the piano and his new found love for chess.

"I am just a normal guy," he said. "I like piano and chess.

"I really discovered it (piano) a few years ago, a friend was playing and I wanted to try.

"With chess, I played a little bit when I was younger but two or three years ago, I started playing again and I really enjoyed it.

"I play online. I have a board at home but I have no-one to play with."

On your lunch break and just joining us?

Not to worry, because he's your Tuesday afternoon recap:

• Christhian Mosquera flying to join Arsenal squad in Singapore
• Gunners boss Mikel Arteta believes up to eight teams can win the 2025-26 Premier League title
• Leeds United complete the signing of German international Anton Stach
• Bayer Leverkusen are keeping tabs on Chelsea's Raheem Sterling
• New Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo calls United the club of his dreams
• And all the best of your reaction so far

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Anton Stach is Leeds’ sixth signing of the summer, four of whom are 6ft 1in or taller, with head coach Daniel Farke clearly keen to add height and physicality to the squad which won promotion from the Championship last season.

Stach, who moves to Elland Road for £17m, certainly fits the bill, having been one of the Bundesliga’s most effective ball-winners in recent years. In the past two seasons he has registered 120 interceptions, more than any other player in the German top flight, and won possession 393 times, which is the league’s third highest tally. He also ranks fourth for tackles attempted and duels won.

His versatility should also be an asset for Leeds. Though used primarily as a holding midfielder by Hoffenheim, Stach began 2024-25 at centre-back, only switching to a more advanced role in November following the appointment of Christian Ilzer as head coach.

At 6ft 4in tall, Stach is an effective aerial presence in both boxes. With Leeds also recruiting Jaka Bijol and Sebastian Bornauw – both of whom are 6ft 3in – plus 6ft 1in Lukas Nmecha, the Yorkshire club will hope to gain a competitive edge next season when it comes to all-important set-pieces.

Image source, BBC Sport