When journalists asked Manchester United’s newest signing, Youri Tielemans, whether he had imagined departing Aston Villa during the current transfer window, his reply was a candid "Not really, no." The response may have taken some by surprise, given the low‑key manner in which United secured a player who boasts eight seasons of Premier League experience and appears to be at the peak of his abilities, all thanks to a modest £35 million release clause. In his inaugural interview since donning the red shirt, Tielemans shed light on how the transfer materialised, especially since United had expressed interest in him on a couple of previous occasions. "There have been two moments when I spoke with the club, but nothing came of it, so I stayed very relaxed," he explained. "My agent handled most of the negotiations; I was concentrating on the World Cup, which was a huge priority for me.
When the deal finally became viable, I was informed. I wasn’t expecting a summer move – I was simply focused on my football and on performing for my country.
Then, as every summer can show, things can change in an instant." Tielemans arrived at Villa as a free agent after leaving Leicester City when the latter were relegated to the Championship. Throughout his spells at both Leicester and Aston Villa, a move to one of the traditional "top‑six" clubs never seemed to be on the radar, which made his switch to Manchester United all the more unexpected.
When asked whether he thought the chance had slipped away, he 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, "The atmosphere around United right now is very positive, and I’m hopeful we can write a great chapter together.
Aston Villa is a wonderful club; I owe them a lot. They restored me to my best level, and I’m extremely grateful for that." Adjusting to a new environment can be daunting, but Tielemans said he felt an immediate sense of familiarity thanks to the presence of former teammate Jonny Evans on United’s coaching staff. Evans, who spent four and a half seasons alongside Tielemans at Leicester, now serves as a key member of Michael Carrick’s backroom team. When asked about reuniting with Evans, Tielemens smiled broadly and said, "Jonny has always been a main character.
He’s great at mentoring young players and welcomed me at Leicester, and now here. It feels a little odd to see him as a staff member, but it’s working well – he knows me, knows what I need, and understands what I can bring to the squad, which helps me settle in." Another recent colleague at Villa was England forward Marcus Rashford, who spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa Park. Tielemans recalled their time together fondly: "He was fantastic. There was a lot of media hype and pressure surrounding him, but I just saw a humble, hard‑working player.
From the first training session, his touch and acceleration were outstanding. That’s exactly what we needed at Villa, and I hope he can replicate that impact here at United." Tielemans’ summer was eventful even before his surprise transfer. He captained Belgium at the World Cup, where the Red Devils were eliminated in the quarter‑finals by eventual champions Spain.
An injury sustained during the warm‑up for that match prevented him from taking the field, prompting concerns among United supporters about his fitness. Tielemans reassured fans, stating, "It was simply an overload of games and minutes.
We played 120 minutes against Senegal, then had a short break before facing the USA a few days later, and then Spain three days after that. My body just shut down in the warm‑up." Prior to the injury, the Belgian midfielder had been instrumental in his nation’s tournament run, scoring twice in a dramatic 2‑1 victory over Senegal in the round of 32. The most contentious moment came in the round of 16 against the United States, when striker Folarin Balogun’s red card was controversially rescinded, only for the decision to have little practical effect as Belgium triumphed 4‑1.
"We were initially surprised by the reversal of the red card and the subsequent suspension," Tielemans said. "It didn’t change our preparation much, apart from having to adjust to a different type of player. Apart from that, we stayed calm, accepted the situation, and focused on playing a good game." Looking ahead, Tielemans emphasized his readiness for the upcoming Premier League season. He believes his experience in high‑pressure international fixtures, combined with the tactical education he received under managers at Leicester and Villa, will serve him well at Old Trafford.
"I’m eager to contribute, to learn from the staff and my new teammates, and to help Manchester United get back to the top of English football," he concluded. Overall, Tielemans’ narrative illustrates a player who, while not anticipating a summer departure, embraced the opportunity when it arose, grateful for his development at Villa and optimistic about the future at one of the world’s most storied clubs.