Manchester United have bagged their man. The club officially announced the signing of Belgium international Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, and this one stings for the Villans. Tielemans, a key cog in Villa’s Europa League-winning machine last season, is heading to Old Trafford after United triggered the £35 million ($47m) release clause in his contract.
The 29-year-old has been a force in the Premier League for years, and he’s bringing that experience to a United side desperate to climb back to the top. Tielemans didn’t exactly light up the World Cup with Belgium this summer, but he did bag a brace in a thrilling 3-2 win over Senegal in the round of 32 — a reminder of his clutch gene.
“It’s hard to describe just how proud I am to join Manchester United,” Tielemans said. “Signing for such a special club feels incredible… The ambition from everyone at the club is extremely clear; we are all determined to push for the biggest trophies over the coming years.” That’s the kind of talk United fans want to hear, especially after a summer of upheaval.
Tielemans joins Andrey Santos as part of United’s midfield revamp. Santos, the former Chelsea youngster, was officially unveiled on Monday. United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, didn’t hold back: “Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years. He has all of the technical qualities, as well as the ambition and mentality, to thrive at Manchester United.”
But the business didn’t stop there. On Tuesday, United also snagged goalkeeper Karl Darlow from Leeds on a two-year deal, with an option for a third. The rebuild is in full swing, and the Red Devils are making moves. Expect more surprises before the window slams shut.
ESPN’s Rob Dawson contributed to this report.