Manchester United sign Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa on a five-year deal
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New Manchester United midfielder Youri Tielemans captained Belgium to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, before they were knocked out by Spain. He missed the match due to injury.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Manchester United have signed midfielder Youri Tielemans from fellow English Premier League side Aston Villa on a five-year contract, both clubs said on July 14.
The 29-year-old Belgium international has joined Michael Carrick’s side for a fee of £35 million (S$60.6 million), according to a team source.
Tielemans scored two goals and supplied seven assists in 35 appearances across all competitions last season, helping Villa secure the Europa League title and a fourth-place finish in the English Premier League.
“It’s hard to describe just how proud I am to join Manchester United," Tielemans said. “Signing for such a special club feels incredible. It is the culmination of years of dedication since I first fell in love with football.”
United’s director of football Jason Wilcox described Tielemans as one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League in recent years.
“He has all of the technical qualities, as well as the ambition and mentality, to thrive at Manchester United,” he said.
Tielemans joined Villa on a free transfer in 2023 after a successful spell at Leicester City, where he made 195 appearances.
At international level, Tielemans has been a key figure for Belgium, captaining his side to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, before they were knocked out by Spain. He missed the match due to injury.
United have prioritised strengthening their midfield following the departure of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte’s knee ligament injury sustained at the World Cup.
The club announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea on July 13 for a reported initial fee of £48 million, with a further £2 million in possible add-ons.
Also on July 14, the Red Devils received a sell-on clause windfall after Fenerbahce signed their former academy product Mason Greenwood from Marseille for €39 million (S$57.5 million).
The Red Devils are expected to receive between €12 million and €13 million from the 24-year-old’s transfer, according to The Athletic. Greenwood joined Marseille from United in July 2024.
His departure from Old Trafford came after his January 2022 arrest for attempted rape, assault, and coercive control. The charges were dropped due to “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material”.
Fenerbahce will hope he will add firepower to their frontline as they chase a first Turkish top-flight title since 2014. The versatile forward bagged 37 league goals in 66 appearances over two seasons for the French side.
Meanwhile, winger Leandro Trossard will join Fenerbahce’s Istanbul rivals Besiktas from Arsenal, the Premier League club said on July 14, ending the Belgium international’s three-year spell in north London.
The 31-year-old made 174 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal, scoring 36 goals after joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2023.
He tallied eight goals and 11 assists as the Gunners ended 22-year wait for a league title, while also reaching the Champions League and League Cup finals last season.
British media reported that Besiktas will pay around £17 million for Trossard, whose contract was due to run until 2027 with an option for a further year. Arsenal said Trossard was given permission to travel to Istanbul for a medical.
In other Premier League moves, Brighton have signed Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported club-record fee of £46 million that could yet increase.
The 19-year-old, who played against England at the World Cup, has agreed a five-year deal, with an option for a further 12 months.
The BBC reported Spurs could receive an additional £4 million in add-on fees, while the deal includes a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
Vuskovic joined Tottenham from Hajduk Split in 2025 and spent last season on loan at German club Hamburg. The centre-back did not make a single competitive appearance for Spurs.
Elsewhere on the south coast, Bournemouth signed Uruguayan striker Alvaro Rodriguez from Spanish club Elche on July 14 for a reported £27.5 million.
The target man netted seven goals last season in La Liga, including against giants Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and is new manager Marco Rose’s first signing.
Belgium right-back Thomas Meunier has joined Sunderland on a two-year contract following his departure from French side Lille, the Premier League club said on July 15. The 34-year-old arrives on a free transfer after making 35 appearances in all competitions for Lille last season. REUTERS, AFP