Manchester United officially signs Tielemans for €41 million, who reveals his reasons for joining and will wear the number 18 shirt to succeed Casemiro

Manchester United completed the medical examination for Youri Tielemans on Tuesday and quickly made his signing official. After Chelsea's Andrey Santos and free agent Karl Darlow, the 29-year-old Belgian skipper is the third summer addition for the club. The Red Devils triggered the €41 million (£35 million) buyout clause in Tielemans' contract, purchasing his full ownership, and the player agreed to a five-year contract. His salary is reported in two ways: one version states a basic weekly wage of £200,000 plus £50,000 in performance bonuses, totaling £250,000; another suggests £175,000 per week with £45,000 in bonuses, amounting to £220,000.

On the same day, Tielemans, along with his wife Mendy and their three daughters, drove their BMW from Birmingham to Manchester, where he successfully passed his medical at Carrington. Although his World Cup campaign ended due to injury, it did not affect his medical results. United soon announced his arrival and confirmed that he will wear the number 18 jersey for the 2026/27 season, the shirt previously worn by Casemiro for the past four years.

Tielemans stated that after joining Manchester United, he aims to compete for the "biggest titles." Previously, the clubs he played for in England all won trophies, but not the Premier League or Champions League. During his three years at Aston Villa, he won the Europa League last season, scoring a goal in the final. At Leicester City, where he spent four years, he netted the decisive goal in the 2021 FA Cup final, helping the "Foxes" defeat Chelsea 1-0 to lift the trophy.

After putting on the Manchester United shirt, Tielemans said: "It's hard to put into words the pride I feel in joining Manchester United. To play for such a special club is truly incredible. This is the result of years of hard work since I fell in love with football. I've been fortunate to achieve success in the game, which has only strengthened my determination to pursue even greater accomplishments. Everyone at Manchester United has clear ambitions, and we are all eager to strive for the biggest honors in the coming years!"

Villa did not want to sell Tielemans this summer, but he himself wished to move to Manchester United, and the release clause in his contract allowed him and the Red Devils to get their wish. Tielemans has been a United supporter since childhood, which was a key factor in his decision.

Previously, Tielemans missed two good opportunities to join Manchester United. In 2019, when he left Monaco, United had a chance to sign him; in 2023, when his contract with Leicester expired, the Red Devils were again offered the chance to sign him for free. On both occasions, United declined. Third time's the charm, and this time Sir Jim Ratcliffe's management team reached out to him.

"When Manchester United calls, you don't need to hesitate," Tielemans said. As early as 2013, before Tielemans had even made his debut for Anderlecht, he expressed his dream of joining United. "My goal is to be in the first-team squad this season," the young Tielemans said. "Is Anderlecht my dream club? Of course! But I also like Manchester United." Thirteen years later, arriving at Old Trafford, he has reached the pinnacle of his career.

Now, Tielemans has just turned 29, slightly older than the Red Devils' original target. However, his experience in the Premier League and his passion for playing for United compensate for the age disadvantage. These factors are considered by Ratcliffe as crucial in determining whether a player is suitable for the club, sometimes even more important than their actual ability.

Tielemans also recorded a video message for Manchester United fans from the players' dressing room, telling the Red Devils supporters: "I'm really excited to start this journey with you."

Interestingly, in 2017, Tielemans, as captain of Belgian side Anderlecht, faced off against current Manchester United manager Carrick in the Europa League. Eight years later, Carrick is now his head coach! He also has familiar faces at Old Trafford: veteran Harry Maguire and assistant coach Jonny Evans were both former Leicester City teammates at the King Power Stadium, while starting goalkeeper Senna Lammens is his teammate on the Belgian national team.

Tielemans joined Leicester City on loan in January 2019 and spent half a season as a teammate with Maguire; Evans joined six months earlier, and both left the club in the summer of 2023.

Manchester United's football director Jason Wilcox said: "Over the past seven years, Youri (Tielemans) has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. He possesses all the essential technical skills, as well as the mentality and determination needed for success at Manchester United. Youri is very consistent, and his composure, creativity, and leadership will be assets to the team. We are delighted to acquire a player of such quality and experience, who can make a significant impact both on the pitch and in the dressing room. This helps Manchester United build a strong squad capable of competing for the highest honors."

Tielemans made his professional debut at just 16 years and 82 days old, and has since amassed 668 appearances for club and country, scoring 79 goals in 578 club matches and 15 goals in 90 games for Belgium. However, some fans are concerned about his injury issues last season. He suffered calf and ankle problems, making only 35 appearances for Villa, marking his lowest single-season appearance count in eight years in England.

During the World Cup quarter-final against Spain, Tielemans was injured in the pre-match warm-up and had to watch from the sidelines as the "Red Devils" were eliminated 1-2, ending their World Cup campaign. However, his injuries last season are considered just an accident, as he has always had a very high appearance rate, earning the nickname "Belgian Lampard" during his time at Anderlecht.

Throughout his career, Tielemans has played 668 matches, demonstrating his "iron man" durability. Some on social media even claimed that Tielemans has played more games by age 29 than Paul Scholes did in his entire career. That statistic is incorrect, but it does reflect his high frequency of appearances. Data shows that when he joined United, he had played over 100 more matches than Casemiro did when he transferred from Real Madrid in 2022, when Casemiro was already 30.

Some may argue that starting a professional career too early with excessive playing time could lead to "early burnout." Signing a player always carries some risk, and Tielemans offers good value for money. However, the final outcome will ultimately be judged by his performances next season.

Over the past week, Manchester United's transfer news has been coming in thick and fast, making for a busy few days. Now, the key question is what happens next. Tielemans is more of a number 8 player, and his role is similar to that of 21-year-old academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, with the two competing for a starting spot. The first summer signing, Santos, is a number 6. United are expected to need a third new midfielder, one with extensive experience who can perform in Champions League matches and typically plays as a deep-lying holding midfielder.