Youri Tielemans has joined Manchester United from Aston Villa after the Old Trafford club triggered his £35 million release clause in July. The 29-year-old Belgium midfielder signed a five-year deal while representing his country at the World Cup. United seriously considered signing Tielemans in 2019 after his impressive initial loan spell at Leicester City. They returned in 2022 but spent too long waiting for Frenkie de Jong to decide whether he would leave Barcelona. “There had been two times that I spoke with the club, but it did not achieve anything,” Tielemans said, adding that he remained calm and focused on his football and the World Cup. Tielemans credited Aston Villa with helping him rediscover his best form. “I am very thankful to Aston Villa. I owe them the world,” he said. “It is a great club, we did amazing things and they have put me back to my best level. But there are clubs above Villa, and Manchester United is one of them.” He described joining United as a major achievement but said his ambition is to be successful there. A partnership is already developing between Tielemans and captain Bruno Fernandes. They shared the pitch for 26 minutes in United’s 1-1 draw with Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg. “It’s really natural,” Tielemans said. “He is a guy that can find space easily. I just try and find him so that he can move forward.” Head coach Michael Carrick also wants Tielemans to play freely, organize the side and adapt to his structure for possession and pressing. Tielemans has played 668 games for club and country. He withdrew from Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final against Spain after experiencing a problem during the warm-up, which he attributed to an overload of matches and minutes. He said he would tell the manager immediately whenever he felt unable to cope physically. If Tielemans and Fernandes continue developing their understanding, United may gain another way to control midfield while allowing Fernandes to operate farther forward. Somali supporters can now watch how that plan translates onto the pitch.