Manchester United targets Borussia Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton for £35M bid

Manchester United is preparing a £35 million bid for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Waldemar Anton, according to reports from The Mirror and Ruhr Nachrichten dated June 2, 2026. The 29-year-old Germany international has emerged as a priority defensive target for new United head coach Michael Carrick, who reportedly sees Anton as a strong fit for his rebuilding project at Old Trafford.

No formal bid has been confirmed yet, and Dortmund is currently resistant to selling.

Why Anton, and why now

Injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez have left United’s defensive depth looking concerningly thin heading into the summer window.

His move to Dortmund from VfB Stuttgart in July 2024 cost €22.5 million on a four-year deal running until 2028. United’s reported £35 million offer, roughly €40 million at current rates, would represent a meaningful profit for Dortmund on a player they have held for less than two years.

The Dortmund problem

Dortmund’s reluctance is not posturing. The German club is reportedly dealing with its own defensive injury issues, which makes Anton’s presence in the squad more valuable internally.

Anton is tied to Dortmund until 2028, which means he has two full seasons remaining after this one. Clubs with players under long-term contracts hold significant leverage in negotiations.

Carrick’s role in the pursuit

Michael Carrick was confirmed as United’s head coach in May 2026, and this reported pursuit of Anton represents one of his first major transfer pushes in the role. The fact that Carrick has personally endorsed the move, according to The Mirror, signals that this is not a general recruitment shortlist item.

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