Youri Tielemans, the Belgian midfielder who completed a surprise switch from Aston Villa to Manchester United, gave his first interview since the transfer and was candid about his expectations. When asked whether he had imagined departing Villa during the summer window, he replied simply, "Not really, no." This modest answer belies the fact that United managed to secure a player with eight seasons of Premier League experience for a relatively modest £35 million release clause, a sum that seemed almost symbolic compared with the market rates for a talent of his calibre.
Tielemans explained that the move was not the result of a frantic, last‑minute chase. "There have been two occasions when I spoke with Manchester United, but nothing materialised," he said. "I was mainly focused on the World Cup, which was huge for me.
When the club finally made an acceptable offer, I was informed and then everything fell into place." He stressed that his primary concern at the time was performing for Belgium at the summer tournament, not negotiating a club deal. "I wasn’t expecting a summer transfer at all," he added. "I was concentrating on my football, on the World Cup, trying to give my best for my country. Then, in football, anything can happen during the summer." Tielemans’ journey to United began when he left Leicester City after their relegation to the Championship and joined Aston Villa as a free agent.
During his spell at Villa, he helped the club achieve a historic Europa League triumph, a milestone that elevated the team's profile but still left the door open for a move to one of the traditional "top six" clubs. "I didn’t think the opportunity had passed me by," Tielemans noted.
"At Villa we did amazing things – we won the Europa League, which was fantastic for the club. Yet there are still clubs above us, and Manchester United is one of them." He expressed optimism about his new environment, describing the atmosphere at United as "very positive" and indicating that he hopes to contribute to a compelling narrative for the club. "Aston Villa is a great club and I owe them the world," he said, acknowledging the role they played in restoring his confidence after the Leicester relegation.
"They brought me back to my best level, and I’m extremely grateful." One of the factors that eased his transition to Old Trafford was the presence of former Leicester teammate Jonny Evans, who now works on Michael Carrick’s coaching staff. Tielemans smiled when asked about reuniting with Evans, describing him as "always a main character" who "educates young players" and who "welcomed me at Leicester and now here." He admitted that seeing Evans in a staff role felt "a bit weird," but emphasized that their shared history would help him settle quickly: "He knows me, he knows what I need and what I can bring to the team, so it helps me as well." Tielemans also recalled his six‑month partnership with England striker Marcus Rashford, who spent the latter half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa. The Belgian midfielder praised Rashford’s humility, work ethic, and technical gifts, noting that the winger’s touch and acceleration were exactly what Villa required at the time.
"He was great," Tielemans said. "There was a lot of media pressure around him, but I thought he was just fantastic. He was humble, hard‑working, and from the first training session you could see his quality.
I hope he can bring the same impact to United." Beyond club matters, Tielemans’ summer was eventful on the international stage. He captained Belgium at the World Cup, where the Red Devils reached the quarter‑finals before being eliminated by eventual champions Spain.
An injury sustained in the warm‑up for that match forced him out of the quarter‑final, raising concerns among United supporters about his fitness. Tielemans reassured fans that he is fully recovered and ready for the new season. He explained the injury as a consequence of an overloaded schedule: "We played 120 minutes against Senegal, then had only three or four days before facing the USA, and another three days before Spain. My body simply switched off in the warm‑up." During the tournament, Tielemans played a pivotal role for Belgium, scoring twice in a dramatic 2‑1 victory over Senegal in the round of 32.
He also highlighted the controversial decision to rescind a red card given to USA striker Folarin Balogun in the round of 16. Although the reversal did not alter the final result—Belgium won 4‑1—Tielemans said it affected the team’s preparation: "We were surprised by the decision to reinstate Balogun, but ultimately it didn’t change our approach. We stayed calm, accepted the situation, and focused on playing our game." Looking ahead, Tielemans is eager to translate his international experience and his successful spell at Villa into success at Manchester United.
He emphasized his desire to blend his midfield creativity with United’s attacking ethos, adding depth and composure to the squad. "I want to bring the same determination and vision that helped Belgium and Aston Villa achieve great things," he said. "Manchester United has a rich history and a strong ambition; I’m excited to be part of that journey and to help write a new chapter together." In summary, Tielemans’ transfer to Manchester United was not a sudden, opportunistic grab but rather the culmination of a measured process, guided by his agent and timed by his focus on the World Cup. While he did not anticipate a summer move, the combination of a reasonable release clause, United’s interest, and his own readiness to embrace a new challenge made the switch logical.
With familiar faces like Jonny Evans in the coaching staff and positive memories of teammates such as Rashford, Tielemans feels well‑supported as he embarks on this next phase of his career, hopeful that his contributions will help Manchester United reclaim a place among Europe’s elite.