Kevin De Bruyne Admits Andrey Santos Is Now One of the Best Midfielders in the Premier League.
Kevin De Bruyne has reportedly heaped huge praise on Andrey Santos, admitting that the Brazilian midfielder has developed into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League following his impressive rise in English football. Santos has quickly become one of the most talked-about young midfielders in the division after completing his move from Chelsea to Manchester United, and his performances have continued to attract attention from some of the biggest names in the game.
The 22-year-old Brazilian joined Manchester United from Chelsea in July 2026 in a deal worth around £50 million, becoming Michael Carrick’s first permanent signing as head coach. The move represented a major step in Santos’ career and highlighted the confidence United have in his ability to become an important part of their midfield for years to come. The Premier League officially confirmed that Santos signed a contract with Manchester United until June 2031, with an additional one-year option.
Santos’ journey to the Premier League’s top level has been particularly impressive because of the experience he gained away from Stamford Bridge. After joining Chelsea from Vasco da Gama, the midfielder spent time on loan, including an extended spell at Strasbourg in France. During that period, he established himself as one of the outstanding midfielders in Ligue 1 and demonstrated that he had the physical strength, technical ability and tactical intelligence required to compete at the highest level.
His return to Chelsea gave him another opportunity to prove himself in England, and although he was not always guaranteed a starting position, Santos still made 43 appearances for the club during the 2025/26 campaign. His performances convinced Manchester United that he possessed the qualities needed to strengthen a midfield that was entering a period of major rebuilding. Sky Sports reported that United eventually completed the deal for £50 million, with £48 million guaranteed and a further £2 million in potential add-ons.
That background makes the reported assessment attributed to De Bruyne particularly significant. Few midfielders of the modern era understand the demands of Premier League football better than the Belgian, who spent years dominating games through his passing, creativity, movement and ability to control the tempo. For a player of De Bruyne’s stature to recognize Santos’ qualities would represent another indication of just how highly the Brazilian is being regarded.
What makes Santos particularly exciting is the completeness of his game. He is not simply a midfielder who wants to receive the ball and dictate play from deep. He is capable of competing physically, winning challenges, progressing possession and arriving in dangerous areas. His ability to contribute in different phases of the game has made him an attractive option for Manchester United as they look to build a more balanced midfield.
The statistics from his time at Chelsea also provide evidence of his ability to influence matches. In one Premier League appearance highlighted by Chelsea, Santos won five tackles, came out on top in six of the eight duels he contested and completed all 38 of his passes. Chelsea noted that he became only the second midfielder in the club’s history to complete 100 per cent of his passes in a full Premier League match while attempting at least 30 passes, since Opta’s detailed records began in the 2003/04 season.
Those numbers underline an important part of Santos’ development. His game is not built purely around spectacular moments. Instead, he has shown an ability to contribute consistently through intelligent positioning, efficient passing, defensive work and physical presence. These are precisely the characteristics that can turn a talented young player into a dependable Premier League midfielder.
Manchester United’s decision to make Santos their first permanent signing under Carrick was therefore not simply a move for potential. The club was looking for a player who could contribute immediately while continuing to develop into an elite midfielder. The Premier League itself described the signing as part of United’s midfield rebuild, with Casemiro leaving the club and Manuel Ugarte facing injury problems.
Santos also arrives at Old Trafford with something that many young midfielders lack: experience of different footballing environments. His time in Brazil helped develop his technical foundation, while his loan spells exposed him to the tactical and physical demands of European football. His time at Strasbourg was especially important because it gave him regular first-team responsibility and allowed him to mature away from the pressure surrounding Chelsea.
That development appears to have changed the perception of Santos. When he first arrived in Europe, he was viewed primarily as a promising Brazilian youngster. Today, the conversation is increasingly about whether he can become one of the leading midfielders in England. The fact that he has already attracted praise from elite midfielders only adds to the growing expectation surrounding him.
For Manchester United supporters, the excitement is understandable. The club has spent several years searching for greater balance and consistency in midfield, and Santos possesses several characteristics that could help solve those problems. He can play as a defensive midfielder, operate as a box-to-box player and contribute further forward when required. His versatility gives Carrick tactical flexibility and allows United to change their approach depending on the opposition.
Carrick’s own experience as one of the Premier League’s finest midfielders could also be crucial to Santos’ development. During his playing career, Carrick was known for his composure, positioning, passing range and ability to control the rhythm of matches. Having a manager with such a deep understanding of midfield play could provide Santos with an ideal environment in which to improve.
The Brazilian has already made his Manchester United debut, featuring in a pre-season defeat against Wrexham. Carrick subsequently spoke about the midfielder after the match, giving supporters an early glimpse of how the coaching staff are assessing their new signing.
However, it is important to remember that Santos is still only 22 years old. Calling him one of the Premier League’s best midfielders represents a huge compliment, but it also brings expectations. The Premier League is unforgiving, and maintaining a high level across an entire season is considerably more difficult than producing outstanding performances over a limited period.
Santos will now have to demonstrate that he can handle the pressure of playing for Manchester United, where every performance receives enormous scrutiny. At Chelsea, he was competing for opportunities within an extremely deep squad. At Old Trafford, the expectations will be different. Supporters will expect him to become a major part of the team’s midfield and help the club challenge for trophies.
The pressure is unlikely to worry Santos, though. His career has already involved several difficult transitions, and his development suggests that he is capable of adapting quickly. His move to Manchester United also gives him the opportunity to establish himself as one of the central figures in a new era under Carrick.
The reported praise from De Bruyne therefore carries an interesting message. It is not simply about one compliment from an established star. It represents the growing recognition that Santos has moved beyond the stage of being regarded merely as a promising prospect. He is now being discussed alongside established Premier League midfielders.
Manchester United will certainly hope that assessment proves correct. The club’s decision to invest around £50 million in Santos demonstrates that they believe he can become a cornerstone of the midfield for many years. His long-term contract until 2031 further emphasizes the club’s commitment to his development.
There is also an intriguing sense of irony surrounding the transfer because Santos left Chelsea at a time when many expected him to continue developing at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had previously invested heavily in his development, yet Manchester United ultimately convinced the Brazilian to move to Old Trafford. If Santos reaches the level expected of him, the decision could eventually become one of the most significant talking points surrounding Chelsea’s squad planning.
For United, meanwhile, the potential reward is enormous. A 22-year-old midfielder who already understands English football and has experience playing in Europe gives Carrick a valuable building block. Instead of signing a midfielder who needs several years to adapt to the Premier League, United have acquired someone who has already experienced its physical and tactical demands.
Santos’ greatest strength may ultimately be his mentality. His willingness to compete, his ability to recover possession and his confidence when playing with the ball suggest a midfielder who does not hide when matches become difficult. Those characteristics are essential at Manchester United, particularly when the team is under pressure.
The comparison with some of the Premier League’s established midfield stars will inevitably continue. Players such as Declan Rice, Bruno Fernandes, Rodri and others have set an exceptionally high standard in recent seasons. Santos still has considerable work to do before he can genuinely be placed in that category, but his trajectory suggests that he has the tools required to move in that direction.
For now, the most important thing for Santos is consistency. If he can maintain his defensive intensity, improve his decision-making, contribute goals and assists and continue developing his passing game, there is little doubt that he can become one of the most influential midfielders in England.
Manchester United supporters will be hoping that the reported words attributed to De Bruyne eventually look less like a bold prediction and more like an accurate description of what Santos has become. At only 22, the Brazilian has already experienced the pressure of playing for major clubs, international football and the demands of top-level European competition.
His arrival at Old Trafford could therefore mark the beginning of the most important chapter of his career. United have invested heavily in his potential, Carrick appears ready to give him an important role, and the midfielder himself has the opportunity to establish his name among the Premier League’s elite.
If Santos continues developing at the same rate, it may not be long before the debate changes completely. Instead of asking whether he has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, football fans could soon be debating where exactly he ranks among England’s very best.
And that is perhaps the biggest reason why Manchester United supporters are so excited about the Brazilian. Santos is not being brought to Old Trafford simply to fill a position. He is being brought in with the expectation that he can become a central figure in the club’s future, control games, win battles, drive the team forward and eventually establish himself as one of the defining midfielders of his generation.