Manchester United managed a coup by securing the services of Youri Tielemans this summer from Aston Villa. The Belgian midfielder is coming off an impressive campaign with the Villans in which he won the Europa League.
Youri Tielemans Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 25 | 21 | - | 4 | - | - | 1,863' |
| UEFA Europa League | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | - | 642' |
| FA Cup | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 81' |
| EFL Cup | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 35 | 28 | 2 | 7 | 2 | - | 2,586' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
The Red Devils started the summer by securing the services of Andrey Santos from Chelsea. INEOS’ main focus was on the midfield following the departure of Casemiro at the end of last season.
After failing in the pursuit of the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, United’s search for Premier League-proven midfielders saw them knock on Tielemans’ door. A move was swiftly completed last month and the Belgian made his pre-season debut for the Red Devils against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Tielemans also featured against Leeds United, scoring the final spot kick to help secure a 5-4 win via penalties. The former Leicester City man featured against AC Milan as well and, despite the defeat, managed to impress.
Move for Tielemans a departure from United’s youth-centric policy
Tielemans is a seasoned professional and well accustomed to the rigours of the Premier League, having spent more than seven seasons in the top tier of English football. The Belgian has registered close to 250 appearances in the Premier League and could be a fantastic addition to Michael Carrick’s squad.
INEOS’ decision to move for the 29 year old is a departure from their usual youth-centric transfer policy. The Red Devils have recently shown a preference for signing rising talents before they hit their peak instead of investing heavily in established names.
However, Casemiro’s departure created a void of experience in the locker room, prompting the English giants to turn to Tielemans. The Belgian wears the armband for his national team and his leadership qualities, along with his abilities on the pitch, make him a welcome addition to the squad.
As United prepare for a busy season in which they will also be competing in the Champions League, Tielemans’ experience and expertise may just be what the doctor ordered. Harry Maguire has now offered his thoughts on how his new team-mate can help the Red Devils.
Tielemans will be an asset for United
Speaking to Stadium Astro, Maguire tipped Tielemans to have a big career at Old Trafford. He said: “Yeah, he’s a top player, and he’s a player that we’re happy that he’s joined us and we’ve managed to take him away from Villa.”
“He’s going to have a big career for this club. I think he’s going to take no time in adapting. He’s used to the Premier League. He’s at an age now where he’s really experienced. He knows what it takes to play under big pressure. He’s the captain of Belgium.”
“So, he’s got everything going in his favour, and he’s just got to transfer his game, what he’s shown over the last few years, to this club, and if he does that, then yeah, of course, he’s going to be a huge asset.”
Final Thoughts
United are also close to securing the services of Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion, so Carrick’s midfield is looking a lot better ahead of the start of the season. However, there is no doubt that Tielemans could be the English manager’s trump card this campaign.
Featured image by Evan Treacy/Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
