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Manchester United have completed the signing of French defender Leny Yoro from Lille in a deal worth 62 million euros (£52.18 million), with an additional 8 million euros (£6.73 million) in add-ons. The 18-year-old centre-back has committed to a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with an option for an additional year.
Yoro, who debuted for Lille at 16, attracted interest from top clubs including Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, and Liverpool. Last season, he made 32 league appearances, scoring twice and helping Lille secure a fourth-place finish, earning a spot in the Ligue 1 team of the season.
“Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour,” said Yoro. “Since my first conversations with the club, they set out a clear plan for how I can develop in Manchester as part of this exciting project, and showed a lot of care for me and my family. I know about the history of young players at Manchester United and feel it can be the perfect place to reach my potential and achieve my ambitions, together with my new team-mates. I cannot wait to get started.”
Yoro played 44 times in all competitions for Lille, which included a Europa Conference League quarter-final appearance, where they were eliminated by Aston Villa on penalties.
United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth praised Yoro, stating, “Leny is one of the most exciting young defenders in world football; he possesses every attribute needed to develop into a top-class centre-back.”
Yoro’s signing follows United’s recent acquisition of forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £36.5 million. The club has also shown interest in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, though sources indicate that United would not sign both defenders, with future arrivals depending on squad space and available funds.
Raphael Varane has departed the club, and there are uncertainties regarding Victor Lindelof’s future, whose contract expires next year. Harry Maguire received bids from other Premier League clubs last summer but chose to stay at Old Trafford, making 22 league appearances.
In midfield, United have expressed interest in Paris St-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan defensive midfielder, 23, is one of several options to reinforce the team, though PSG’s asking price of 70 million euros (£59 million) may be a sticking point. Ugarte joined PSG from Sporting Lisbon last July and played 37 games last season, helping Uruguay finish third at this summer’s Copa America.
