Manchester United fans were treated to their first glimpse of Bryan Mbeumo in action on Sunday evening, as the club’s marquee summer signing made his long-awaited debut in the Premier League Summer Series clash against Everton at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The 25-year-old Cameroon international, who joined United from Brentford in a £70 million deal, had missed earlier pre-season fixtures against West Ham and Bournemouth due to concerns over match fitness. But on Sunday, manager Erik ten Hag handed Mbeumo a starting role—and a platform to showcase his potential in United red.
How Mbeumo Fared on His United Debut
Mbeumo featured in the first half of the 2-2 draw, showing flashes of quality while clearly still regaining sharpness. According to data from Flashscore, he registered:
3 shots (1 on target) 1/3 successful dribbles 10/14 passes completed (71%) 1/4 ground duels won 0 successful crosses from 1 attempt He earned a match rating of 6.7/10—a fair reflection of a debut performance that was more about building rhythm than making headlines.
While Mason Mount briefly gave United the lead with a stunning strike in the second half, Aydan Heaven’s own goal in the 75th minute ensured the match ended all square.
Fan Reactions
Despite not being at peak physical condition, Mbeumo’s performance drew a largely positive response from United supporters, many of whom were excited by his chemistry with Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, and Matheus Cunha in attacking phases.
Here’s a snapshot of fan sentiment on social media:
“Extremely rusty but showed some excellent first touches and first-time layoffs.”
“Glimpse of a great player. It will get even better from here.”
“Fitness needs to get there, but the fluid motion with Bruno, Amad, and Cunha was fire.”
“Definitely showed his quality. I can’t wait to see what he looks like after he’s had more time to integrate with the team. Exciting times!”
“Mbeumo will decide a lot of games for Manchester United next season.”
Looking Ahead
While there’s no doubt Mbeumo has more to offer once fully fit, his intelligent movement, quick decision-making, and link-up play were promising signs of what’s to come. Given time to adapt to Ten Hag’s system and reach peak condition, the former Brentford star could become a key figure in United’s attacking rebuild for the 2025/26 season.
