Man United signs Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford as Ruben Amorim continues overhaul

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Bryan Mbeumo became Manchester United's second major signing of the transfer window on Monday after completing a move from Brentford for 65 million pounds ($87 million).

Mbeumo follows the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers as United coach Ruben Amorim looks to overhaul his squad following United's worst ever season in the Premier League.

“As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams; the team whose shirt I wore growing up," Mbeumo said. “My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday. I know that I have the spirit and character to reach another level here, learning from Ruben Amorim and playing alongside world-class players."

The fee for the 25-year-old Cameroon international was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person with knowledge of the deal. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because details have not been made public, said the price could to 71 million pounds ($95 million) based on performance-related add-ons.

Among United's problems last season was a lack of goals and Amorim has tried to address that with his transfer dealings so far. Mbeumo scored 20 goals last term and Cunha scored 17.

By comparison United strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scored just 18 between them.

A center forward could also be added before the transfer window closes Sept. 1.

United's forward line is being transformed by Amorim, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony all expected to leave during the offseason.

Mbeumo has proven himself in England's top flight with Brentford and is coming off his best goal-scoring campaign.

The 25-year-old Cameroon international was the joint fourth leading scorer in the league, with only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland netting more. He scored 70 goals in 242 games for Brentford in six years at the club.

His move comes more than a month after United made its interest in him known and the deal has been completed in time for him to join Amorim's squad for its preseason tour to the United States.

Amorim is aiming to turn United's fortunes around after 12 years without winning the league title.

The team finished last season in 15th place, its lowest in the modern era and just three places above the relegation zone. United also set unwanted club records for the most losses in a Premier League season and the lowest points total.

It had the fifth worst scoring record in the top flight and missed out on qualification for Europe after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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FILE - Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppel, file)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)