Youri Tielemans, the Belgian midfielder who joined Manchester United this summer, gave a candid answer when asked if he had anticipated leaving Aston Villa during the transfer window: “Not really, no.” The response may surprise many, especially considering how quietly United secured a player with eight seasons of Premier League experience at what appears to be the peak of his abilities, thanks to a relatively modest release clause of £35 million. In his debut interview since arriving at Old Trafford, Tielemans shed light on how the move unfolded, noting that United had shown interest in him on a couple of occasions in the past. “There have been two times when I spoke with the club, but nothing materialised, so I stayed calm,” he explained.
He added that his agent handled most of the negotiations while he was pre‑occupied with the World Cup, a tournament that dominated his focus that summer. “When the deal finally became acceptable, I was informed. I wasn’t expecting a summer transfer; I was just concentrating on my football and trying to give my best for Belgium,” Tielemans said. “Then, as every summer can prove, things can change quickly.” Tielemans arrived at Villa as a free agent after Leicester City were relegated to the Championship.
Throughout his spells at Leicester and Aston Villa, a move to one of the traditional "top‑six" clubs never seemed to be on the table, which made his switch to Manchester United all the more unexpected. When asked whether he thought the chance had slipped away, he responded, “Not really, because I know that at Villa we achieved great things.” He highlighted Villa’s Europa League triumph as a career highlight but acknowledged that clubs like United sit above Aston Villa in the hierarchy. “There’s a very positive atmosphere around United at the moment, and I’m hopeful we can write a great story together,” he said.
“Aston Villa is a fantastic club; they brought me back to my best level and I’m incredibly grateful to them.” Adjusting to a new environment can be daunting, but Tielemans found comfort in the presence of a familiar face on United’s coaching staff: former Leicester teammate Jonny Evans, who now works under Michael Carrick. When asked about reuniting with Evans, Tielemans smiled broadly.
“Jonny has always been a key figure. He helped develop young players at Leicester and welcomed me then, and now here,” he said.
“It feels a bit odd to see him as a staff member, but it’s working well. He knows what I need, knows my strengths, and that helps me settle in.” Another teammate with whom Tielemans shared a brief spell at Villa was England striker Marcus Rashford. Rashford spent the latter half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Aston Villa, giving the two midfielders six months together.
Tielemans recalled their time fondly and expressed optimism that Rashford’s qualities could benefit United as well. “He was great. There was a lot of media hype and pressure around him, but I just saw a humble, hard‑working player,” Tielemans said.
“From the first training session his touch and acceleration stood out. That’s exactly what Villa needed then, and I hope he can bring the same impact here.” Tielemans’ summer was eventful even before his surprise transfer.
He captained Belgium at the World Cup, where the Red Devils reached the quarter‑finals before being eliminated by eventual champions Spain. Unfortunately, Tielemans missed the quarter‑final after sustaining an injury during the warm‑up. He reassured United supporters that he is fully fit for the upcoming season. “It was an overload of games and minutes,” he explained.
“We played 120 minutes against Senegal, then had only a few days before facing the USA, and then three days later we played Spain. My body just shut down in the warm‑up.” Before the injury, Tielemans played a pivotal role in Belgium’s campaign, scoring twice in a dramatic 2‑1 victory over Senegal in the round of 32. The round of 16 match against the United States proved even more memorable due to a controversial refereeing decision. USA striker Folarin Balogun received a red card that was later overturned, meaning he was available for the tie.
Despite the reversal, Belgium still won 4‑1. “We were initially surprised by the decision to rescind the red card and the subsequent suspension,” Tielemans recalled.
“It didn’t change our preparation much; it just meant we faced a different type of player than originally planned. We stayed calm, accepted the situation, and focused on playing a good game.” Looking ahead, Tielemans is eager to translate his international experience and his successful stint at Villa into contributions for Manchester United. He praised United’s current environment, emphasizing the club’s ambition and the supportive atmosphere among players and staff. “There’s a real sense of optimism here, and I want to be part of that momentum,” he said.
“I’m grateful for the chance to wear the United shirt, and I’ll give everything to help the team achieve its goals.” Tielemans’ journey—from Leicester’s relegation, to a Europa League triumph with Villa, to captaining his nation at the World Cup, and now to a high‑profile move to Manchester United—illustrates a career marked by resilience and steady progression. While he did not foresee a summer departure from Aston Villa, the combination of a reasonable release clause, United’s renewed vigor, and his own readiness to embrace a new challenge converged to make the transfer a reality. Fans of both clubs can now look forward to seeing how his technical ability, vision, and leadership will influence United’s midfield in the coming season.