The Brazilian leaving Wolves to MU for £ 62.5 million, after the Red Devils triggered the Terms of Liberation of the Contract. Since the Cuha case, 6 other attacking players have moved to British clubs with prices around £ 50-60 million. It was the CuHa that shaped this summer spending trend of the Premier League clubs.
On June 2, 2025, Man United announced that he reached an agreement to recruit striker Matheus Cunha from Wolves for a fee of 62.5 million pounds. The Red Devils triggered the terms of this player's contract release, agreed to pay the above 3 and 10 days later, the Brazilian player officially launched in the new shirt.
Despite being one of the earliest deals this summer, this is not a “urgent purchase” because FIFA Club World Cup because Man United did not attend that tournament. They simply take advantage of the early open transfer to quickly overcome the 15th place full of disappointment last season.
However, the effect of the deal has accidentally shaped most of the Premier League shopping activities, not only with Man United, but also with other leading clubs. And here is the way that happens.
The new standard of the Premier League
Up to the present time, 6 outstanding strikers moving the club in the Premier League, and all of them are about 50 to 60 million pounds. But obviously, the early Manchester United and Cunha deal has set up spending ground between Premier League clubs.
Nearly two months have passed since Man United announced the Cutha (£ 62.5 million) agreement until Bryan Mbeumo signed a £ 66 million contract. During that time, Brighton let Joao Pedro came to Chelsea (£ 55 million), West Ham's Mohammed Kudus joined Tottenham (55 million), Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest moved to Newcastle (52 million), and Chelsea Madueke's Noni Madueke landed at Arsenal for 48 million.
The failed deal between midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Tottenham was also priced at £ 60 million before breaking down, Nottingham Forest threatened to sue Spurs because of illegal accusations.
A clear price is being established, and it is no coincidence that this is formed. Finally, the concept of “transfer value” became vague when the negotiations began to revolve around tens of millions of pounds. There are too many variables, and each club will cite all kinds of factors to determine its request.
In many cases, the simplest way is to compare with a similar deal that has been completed and takes it as a mold.
Man United made it hard for himself
Indeed, according to ESPN's source, during the long -term negotiation process of Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford publicly announced the view that they valued the Cameroon player higher than Maheus CuHa. The London Club rejected a series of lower offers before agreeing to the starting price of 66 million pounds, which could increase to 71 million according to the secondary terms.
At first glance, it is a reasonable view when Mbeumo (25 years old) has the same age as CunHa (26), and has the number of goals in the Premier League in the last two seasons near each other (Mbeumo: 29, Cunha: 27).
However, their contractual circumstances are very different: Cunha has a release clause, while MBeumo has only one contract left (although there is an additional extension of one year).
Perhaps there is still room for the flexibility in negotiations, but everything clearly became tense. Finally, the total value of the transfer package of £ 71 million made many people surprised. The general perception is that if Man United did not pay 62.5 million pounds for Cunha from the beginning, the price for MBeumo would certainly be much lower.
Chain effect on the Gyokeres crop
In a market full of non -published terms, hidden fees and confidential information, Sporting CP President, Mr. Frederico Varandas, was unexpectedly opened when he clearly stated the price he wanted to receive to the star Viktor Gyokeres.
“We observed the market,” Varandas said in June. “I see two players, Cuha and Mbeumo sold in the Premier League, my viewers are not equal to Viktor. They are sold for about 75 million euros (64 million pounds). And they are all 26 years old. So with the requirements we offer to Viktor, I believe he can completely leave at high prices.”
After weeks of tense and controversial negotiations in Portugal, Gyokeres finally joined Arsenal with a starting price of 55 million pounds, plus £ 8.7 million in additional surcharges, a total of about 63.7 million pounds. Another factor that reduces the transfer fee is that Gyokeres representatives agree to give up the commission from the original fee, helping Sporting save an additional £ 6.4 million.
At this price, Gyokeres is located right in the “standard” range that the CunHa deal creates even though the initial fee is somewhat lighter. This can make Varandas not completely satisfied, but it is a clear bargain for Arsenal.
During the 8 months of controversy about whether or not Gyokeres should be spent, his age (just 27 in June) is often given as a reason, especially when he was compared to RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko (22 years old). However, Varandas has a very convenient “comparison model” of Cunha, who is the same age and has a clear price.
In other deals, Arsenal recruited Madueke from Chelsea for £ 48 million, equal to Chelsea paid to Jamie Gittens from Dortmund (48 million pounds, can be up to £ 55 million). Although Madueke is 3 years older than Gittens, more experienced and more appreciated, the numbers show that Chelsea is simply buying according to the “common ground” on the market.
The new milestone is called Ekitike and Wirtz
Although the CunHa deal creates the original price, it is impossible not to mention Liverpool's cult contract with Florian Wirtz. The midfielder comes from Leverkusen with a record price of the club of £ 100 million with £ 16 million. This transaction once again emphasizes the financial potential of the Premier League and stretches the upper limit of the market.
Just a few weeks later, Liverpool continued to close the Hugo Ekitike price from Frankfurt at 69 million pounds, which could increase to 79 million, located right between the price range of CuHa and Wirtz. Ekitike almost joined Newcastle for only about £ 30 million in 2022, but after a season of 15 goals after 33 matches in the Bundesliga, he became a new transfer standard.
As a result, Chelsea is currently pricing Nicolas Jackson at 80–100 million pounds, and Leipzig offers the same level for Sesko. Both Sesko (22 years old), Ekitike (23 years old), Jackson (24 years old) were directly compared to their age and competition position, making Ekitike price become the basis for the other two deals in the future.
Of course, the pricing of the player according to the ground has been going on for decades. But rarely people see the beginning of the “Domino effect” so clearly. And even more rarer when those deals are said so frankly.