Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million, activating a release clause in his contract. Tielemans will wear the No.18 shirt at Old Trafford, following in the footsteps of club legends Paul Scholes and Bruno Fernandes, as well as recent departure Casemiro.
Tielemans Completes Move to Manchester United
Tielemans, who previously wore No.8 at Leicester City and Aston Villa, has signed a contract with the Red Devils after a consistent run of performances in the Premier League. The 29-year-old scored in Aston Villa's recent Europa League final victory, which proved to be his penultimate appearance for the club.
The move comes after United's pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson fell through earlier this week. Alongside Tielemans, the club has also secured Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a separate £50 million deal, as part of a midfield overhaul overseen by director of football Jason Wilcox.
Shirt Number History and Significance
The No.18 shirt has a storied history at Manchester United. Casemiro vacated it after his contract expired, while Bruno Fernandes previously wore it before switching to his preferred No.8. Paul Scholes also famously donned the number during his illustrious career at the club.
Tielemans Expresses Pride in Joining United
“It’s hard to describe just how proud I am to join Manchester United. Signing for such a special club feels incredible, it is the culmination of years of dedication since I first fell in love with football,” Tielemans said. “I have had the privilege of experiencing success in the game and it has only increased my determination to achieve more. The ambition from everyone at the club is extremely clear; we are all determined to push for the biggest trophies over the coming years.”
Club Director Praises New Signing
Jason Wilcox, Manchester United's director of football, commented on the acquisition: “Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years.” The club is expected to pursue further transfers after completing deals worth £85 million in total.
