Manchester United are reportedly in advanced negotiations to land Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa after triggering a €41 million release clause in his contract.
Key takeaways
- United have activated a €41m release clause to move closer to signing Tielemans from Aston Villa.
- A verbal understanding has been reached with the 28-year-old as the club looks to bolster its midfield for the new season.
- Tielemans has made 134 appearances for Villa, contributing 10 goals during his time with the club.
- His Villa tenure included two Champions League qualifications, a Europa League title, and a goal in last season’s final.
- The pursuit comes after United agreed terms to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos for £50m.
- Reports also suggest United have ended their interest in Atalanta midfielder Ederson.
Tielemans’ Villa impact and recent achievements
Tielemans joined Aston Villa in 2023, arriving from Leicester City on a free transfer. Since then, he has featured 134 times for the club and scored 10 goals, with much of his output coming during a productive spell under manager Unai Emery.
At Villa Park, the midfielder played a role in the team reaching the UEFA Champions League on two separate occasions. Villa also advanced to the quarter-finals of the competition during his time there.
In European knockout action, Tielemans helped drive Villa to winning last season’s UEFA Europa League. He also scored the opening goal in the final against Freiburg.
United’s wider midfield reshuffle
Before his move to Villa, Tielemans was part of a Leicester side that delivered major domestic silverware. He won the FA Cup and the Community Shield with the Foxes.
United’s push for Tielemans is also linked to their ongoing activity in midfield recruitment. Earlier, the club agreed a £50 million deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.
Additionally, there have been reports from Sky Italia that Manchester United have stopped pursuing Atalanta midfielder Ederson.
United had previously reached agreement on a £38 million deal to sign the Brazil international, who appeared at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The plan was for the midfielder to sign a four-year contract, with a further year available as an option.
