Youri Tielemans explains Man Utd transfer and Aston Villa departure
Youri Tielemans opens up on his 35 million pound move from Aston Villa to Manchester United, calling it a major milestone in his career.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Manchester United signed Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for 35 million pounds on a five-year contract.
- The 29-year-old midfielder revealed he previously held talks with United in 2019 and 2022.
- Tielemans expressed immense gratitude to Villa but admitted that United operate at a higher level.
- He has amassed 668 professional appearances for club and country since making his debut at 16.
It was third time lucky this summer in the relationship between Youri Tielemans and Manchester United. The Old Trafford outfit triggered a 35 million pound release clause to secure the Belgium midfielder on a five-year deal from Aston Villa while he was on World Cup duty in July.
United had previously looked closely at the player in 2019 following an impressive loan spell at Leicester, and again in 2022 while they spent time waiting for Frenkie de Jong to make up his mind regarding a departure from Barcelona.
Reflecting on the transfer, Tielemans noted that he had spoken with the club twice before without any outcome, and admitted he was calm and not expecting much this summer, focusing entirely on the World Cup before the opportunity materialized through his release clause.
"I am very thankful to Aston Villa. I owe them the world. It is a great club, we did amazing things, and they have put me back to my best level. But there are clubs above Villa, and Manchester United is one of them."
Youri Tielemans
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Tielemans joining Manchester United at 29 years old marks a pivotal chapter in his career trajectory. Having made his professional debut at a remarkably young age with Anderlecht, his extensive workload across club and international football highlights the modern challenge of fixture congestion and physical management, particularly after enduring intense tournament schedules.
Settling into his new surroundings has been eased by familiar faces, notably Jonny Evans, his former Leicester team-mate who provided a glowing reference to the coaching staff, alongside Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford, whom Tielemans praised for his exceptional humility, work ethic, and explosive acceleration during their time together at Villa.
Source: BBC Sport
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