LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES – JULY 10: Youri Tielemans of Belgium disappointed after the match during the World Cup match between Spain v Belgium at the Los Angeles Stadium on July 10, 2026 in Los Angeles United States (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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Manchester United’s midfield revamp continued with the signing of Youri Tielemans on Tuesday with the Belgian making the move to Old Trafford from Aston Villa for a reported fee of £35m. Tielemans had been linked to United for a number of years and the transfer has finally taken place.
This isn’t to say the timing of Tielemans didn’t come as a surprise to most. Manchester United admired the Belgian earlier in his career, but nobody knew about the £35m release clause in his contract at Villa until news broke that the Old Trafford club had placed that amount down on the table.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JULY 14: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Youri Tielemans of Manchester United poses after signing for the club at Carrington Training Ground on July 14, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Tielemans will give Michael Carrick’s team a different dimension in the centre of the pitch. The 29-year-old is exceptional on the ball and is one of the best progressors of the ball in the Premier League. This is presumably why Manchester United made its move for Tielemans. He gives the team something it was lacking.
It was only yesterday that Manchester United confirmed the £48m capture of Andrey Santos from Chelsea. The Brazilian is a very different midfielder to Tielemans in that he is more mobile and covers more ground at the base of the midfield unit. The pair, however, could complement each other.
Latest reporting suggests United will move for another central midfielder before the summer transfer window closes with Carrick’s team in need of someone who can link all areas of the side. Kobbie Mainoo is still on the books and will be important this coming season, but Manchester United still requires more depth.
Istanbul, Turkey – May 20: Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League Final 2026 match between SC Freiburg and Aston Villa FC at Besiktas Park on May 20, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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“It’s hard to describe just how proud I am to join Manchester United,” said Tielemans after completing his surprise transfer to the Old Trafford club from Aston Villa. “Signing for such a special club feels incredible. It is the culmination of years of dedication since I first fell in love with football.”
Carrick pointed Manchester United in the right direction again after taking over from Ruben Amorim last season. The Red Devils finished third in the Premier League table, but had a lot of work to do this summer to prepare for the 2026/27 campaign. Some of that work has been done. The rebuild, however, is still to be finished.
Carlos Baleba, Manu Kone and Aurelien Tchouameni have all been linked with a move to Manchester United with the club also believed to be in the market for a new left winger. United is in a better place now than it was even a week ago and Tielemans could have a big role to play in the future.