Youri Tielemans, the Belgian midfielder who completed a surprise move to Manchester United this summer, answered a simple question with an almost unexpected "not really, no." When asked whether he had anticipated leaving Aston Villa during the current transfer window, the newly‑signed United player admitted that a summer departure had never been on his radar. It is easy to overlook the fact that United quietly secured a player who brings eight seasons of Premier League experience and appears to be at the peak of his abilities, all thanks to a relatively modest release clause of £35 million. In his first media sit‑down since arriving at Old Trafford, Tielemans opened up about how the transfer unfolded, especially given that United had shown interest in him on a few prior occasions.
"There have been two moments when I spoke with the club, but nothing materialised, so I stayed very calm about it," Tielemans explained. "It was mainly my agent handling the negotiations; I was concentrating on the World Cup, which was huge for me. When the deal finally became acceptable, I was informed." He continued, "I wasn’t expecting a summer move, to be honest. My focus was on my football and on performing for my country at the World Cup.
Then, every summer, something can happen." Tielemans’ path to United was not a straight line. After Leicester City were relegated to the Championship, he left the club on a free transfer and signed for Aston Villa.
During his time at Villa, the prospect of a move to one of the traditional "big six" clubs never seemed realistic, which made his eventual switch to Manchester United all the more startling for many observers. When asked whether he ever thought the chance of joining United had slipped away, Tielemans answered, "Not really, because I know that at Villa we achieved great things. We won the Europa League, which was fantastic for the club, but there are still clubs above Aston Villa, and Manchester United is one of them." He added, "There is a very positive atmosphere around the club right now, and I’m hopeful we can write a great story together.
Aston Villa is a wonderful club and I owe them everything. They helped me get back to my best level, and I’m extremely grateful." Adjusting to a new environment is always a challenge, but Tielemans said he felt an immediate sense of familiarity thanks to the presence of former Leicester teammate Jonny Evans, who now works as a member of Michael Carrick’s coaching staff at United. "Jonny has always been a main character," Tielemans said with a smile.
"He has always tried to educate young players, and he welcomed me at Leicester and now here. It feels a bit odd to see him as a staff member, but it’s going great – he knows me, knows what I need and what I can bring, so it helps me as well." Another recent teammate with whom Tielemans shared a short spell was England striker Marcus Rashford. Rashford spent the latter half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa, giving the two players six months together at Villa Park. Tielemans spoke warmly of the experience, recalling Rashford’s humility and work ethic.
"There was a lot of media pressure around him, but I thought he was just brilliant. He was humble, hardworking, and from the first training session you could see his touch and acceleration were amazing. That was exactly what we needed at Villa, and I hope he can bring the same qualities to United." Beyond club football, Tielemers enjoyed a busy summer with Belgium at the World Cup. He captained the national side, which 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 the setback was not a lingering concern. "It was an overload of games and minutes. We played 120 minutes against Senegal, then had very little recovery time before facing the USA and then Spain.
My body simply switched off in the warm‑up," he explained. Before the injury, Tielemans had been a key figure in Belgium’s campaign, scoring twice in the dramatic round‑of‑32 victory over Senegal. He also highlighted the controversial moment in the round of 16 when USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red card was overturned, although Belgium still triumphed 4‑1.
"We were surprised by the decision to reverse the red card and the subsequent suspension, but it didn’t change much for us besides the preparation. It was a different type of player we had expected, but we stayed calm, accepted the situation and focused on playing a good game," he said. Overall, Tielemans’ summer has been a whirlwind of milestones: a free transfer to Aston Villa, a Europa League triumph, a World Cup captaincy, a serious injury, and finally a high‑profile move to Manchester United. He emphasized that despite the physical toll, he feels fully prepared for the upcoming season.
"My body needed a break after so many minutes, but I’m ready now. I’m excited to start this new chapter at United and contribute to the team’s ambitions," he concluded. Tielemans’ story underscores how quickly fortunes can change in football.
One moment a player is focusing solely on international duty, and the next he finds himself at one of the world’s most storied clubs, reunited with familiar faces and eager to make an impact. With his experience, versatility, and determination, the Belgian midfielder aims to help Manchester United reclaim its place among the elite, while never forgetting the role Aston Villa played in reviving his career.