Manchester United are moving to sign Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, with the club set to proceed on a £35m transfer, according to David Ornstein.
The Athletic journalist broke the news on X on July 13, 2026, revealing that United are in advanced talks to complete the deal for the 29-year-old Belgian international.
United plan to trigger a release clause in Tielemans’ contract, a mechanism that leaves Aston Villa powerless to block the move despite their clear reluctance to sell.
“Youri Tielemans move from Aston Villa to Manchester United through £35m release clause in midfielder’s contract. #AVFC had no wish to sell + offered new deal but left with little choice due to mechanism & #MUFC set to proceed on transfer,” Ornstein said.
Aston Villa had gone as far as offering Tielemans a new contract in an effort to keep him, but the release clause ultimately gives the player and United full control over his future.
Tielemans caught the attention of many this summer after impressing for the Belgian national team at the World Cup, earning praise from national team manager Rudi Garcia.
Garcia described the midfielder as “outstanding,” a label that has done little to discourage United’s pursuit of the player heading into the summer transfer window.
Ornstein also confirmed that Tielemans is keen on making the move to Old Trafford, with all parties in contact as United try to finalise the switch.
The transfer comes off the back of a separate setback for United in their midfield recruitment drive, with the Ederson deal confirmed as off for now, though Ornstein noted it could potentially be revisited later in the summer.
United’s need for midfield reinforcements is clear, having lost Casemiro at the end of his contract while Manuel Ugarte has struggled to convince during his time at the club and is currently sidelined through injury.
Tielemans has long been regarded as one of the more underrated midfielders in the Premier League, having first made his name as a standout performer during his time at Leicester City.
Despite those performances for Leicester never quite translating into a move to a top-six club at the time, Tielemans has continued to develop and impress following his switch to Villa.
His Premier League experience and proven quality at a high level make him an attractive option for United as they look to reshape their squad this summer.
If the deal goes through as expected, it will represent a significant moment in Tielemans’ career and give him the platform to compete for major honours for the first time.
