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In the 91st minute of Manchester United’s 1–1 draw against West Ham United, Bryan Mbeumo defeated Adama Traore in a 70-metre race across the pitch. The Spaniard had come on a minute earlier; the Cameroonian had started the race and it was his 32nd sprint of the night!
Mbeumo’s ability to reach 34.37km/h in the final minutes of the match was a clear sign of a top athlete who has hit the ground running since making the move to Old Trafford last summer. The Red Devils were aiming for an attacking overhaul ahead of this season’s star and, after signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, turned their attention to Mbeumo.
The 26-year-old had a spectacular season at Brentford, scoring 20 goals in 42 games. The Bees demanded a premium for their prized asset, with United eventually agreeing to a £71 million deal for his signature. Half a season later, that already seems like a fantastic investment.
United’s top scorer this season
Mbeumo has been a revelation so far and is one of United’s most important players this season. The Cameroonian has started every match in the Premier League and is also the Red Devils’ top scorer this season.
Mbeumo has found the back of the net ten times and set up three more in 24 appearances in all competitions.
Bryan Mbeumo stats: 2025/26 season
| Competition | Performances | Begins | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 22 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 3 | – | 1,891′ |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | 45′ |
| Total | 23 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 3 | – | 1,936′ |
Source: Transfer market.
Mbeumo is also the Red Devils’ fastest player this season, recording a top speed of 36.3 km/h during the 1-1 draw against Fulham at the start of the season. In addition to his attacking threat, Cameroon’s work ethic has also endeared him to the fans.
Mbeumo rose through the ranks at Troyes before breaking into the first team and then earning a move to Brentford in the summer of 2019. Former Troyes manager Rui Almeida recently shed light on the player’s formative years in France.
Can Mbeumo reach a milestone?
Speaking with the Manchester Evening NewsAlmeida challenged Mbeumo to improve his goal production. He said: “It would be good for me to say that at Troyes we knew he was going to be a top player, but I think it would be a bit pretentious if I said that.”
“Bryan had something, of course, the things I talked about before, his talent to do it, he was strong, he was really fast, he had an idea of the goal we were talking about. But I can say it another way. I can say that only some bad luck in his career could have prevented him from succeeding.”
“When he went to Brentford at the end of our season, I think it was the right move to go to the Championship. That’s a tough league too, but it’s not the Premier League. If he jumped from the French league to the Premier League it might have been a difficult step and wouldn’t have given him the space to grow.”
“I think the point now is: where is he now? He’s at a top club, and it’s a matter of statistics, to score more goals, because I think that’s the goal now. Can he reach the 35/40 goal mark, to take him into the top 10 or 15 in the world?”
Final thoughts
United have scored 48 goals in 27 Premier League games this season, while they managed just 44 goals in 38 games last season. Central to the revival of the attack has been a productive Mbeumo, who has all the makings of an Old Trafford great.
The Cameroonian has operated on the right wing and as a central striker this season and has been a constant threat. If he can further increase his goal production, the fans will definitely be in for a treat.
Featured image by Michael Regan/Getty Images
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