Manchester United clinches Youri Tielemans as midfield gamble pays

Youri Tielemans, 29, has completed his transfer to Manchester United, passing his medical and signing a contract that runs until 2031. The Belgian captain of the Rode Duivels called the move "the crowning of a years‑long dedication since I first fell in love with football."

reported that Google-favoriet Tielemans had been on Manchester United’s wish list for years, but the collapse of the Ederson deal with Atalanta accelerated the negotiations. After Ederson’s transfer fell through, the club moved quickly to secure Tielemans.

Tielemans expressed his pride, saying, "It is hard to describe how proud I am – signing for such a big club feels incredible." He repeated that the contract marks a personal milestone.

The club’s ambition was summed up by a statement that “the ambition of everyone within the club is crystal clear: we are all determined to fight for the biggest trophies in the coming years.”

Doordat Tielemans gratis naar Villa kwam, Aston Villa benefited financially: United paid the £35 million release clause (about €41 million), allowing Villa to make a solid profit from the free transfer.

Manchester United remained active on the market, adding another midfielder earlier this week. Andrey Santos arrived from Chelsea for €58 million, signing a deal until 2031 with an optional extra year.

The Braziliaan midfielder had featured in 43 matches for the Blues, contributing three goals and four assists during his time at Chelsea.

Rudi Garcia praised Tielemans, describing him as the “chouchou” with two faces, highlighting his importance to the squad.

Tielemans also spoke about the injury that forced him out of the quarter‑final against Spanje, noting that when the body says stop, you must not force it.

After a win against VS at the WK, the Duivel remarked, “We answered on the field,” reflecting the national team’s confidence.

Amadou Onana, another Rode Duivel, shared his emotional story about a cruciate ligament injury, marking his first public discussion of the setback.