Manchester United have confirmed the signing of 18-year-old French star Leny Yoro from Lille for £52m.
United’s offer of £42m plus £10m in add-ons for the defender was accepted last week but there were concerns Yoro’s preference was to join Real Madrid.
However, United have moved quickly to close the deal and are finalising personal terms on a five-year contract with the option of a 12-month extension.
Yoro, who made 41 appearances for Lille last season, has also attracted interest from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
The centre-back, described as a generational talent, flew to Manchester to undergo a medical on Wednesday. He had been waiting for Madrid to match United’s offer but Lille put pressure on the defender to join the Red Devils as the Champions League winners were unwilling to pay the fee.
Manchester United have completed the £52m signing of highly-rated 18-year-old Lille defender Leny Yoro.
The club announced their latest signing on Thursday evening after the player passed his medical on Wednesday.
The deal represents a huge coup for Erik ten Hag’s side, with United beating Liverpool to the punch in the deal.
He was also Liverpool’s main target, but the Reds are believed to have been convinced he only wanted a move to Spain.
Madrid were believed to be more interested in waiting to recruit the 18-year-old next summer, when he would have become a free agent, which in turn saw Lille push to get the deal done with United sooner rather than later.
Manchester United’s announcement came on Thursday evening and is subject to registration, but Yoro has signed a contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2029.
“Signing for a club of the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour,” Yoro said on sealing the deal. “From my earliest conversations with the club, they laid out a clear plan on how I can develop in Manchester as part of this exciting project, and they showed a lot of affection for me and my family.
“I know the history of young players at Manchester United and I feel that this could be the perfect place for me to fulfil my potential and achieve my ambitions alongside my new team-mates. I can’t wait to get started.”
He becomes United’s second signing of the summer after Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee moved to Old Trafford for £36.5m.
The Manchester club showed off its latest signing with a photo shoot in front of a photo of the city
The centre-back and centre-forward positions were United’s priorities in this transfer window, so new co-owners Ineos and manager Erik ten Hag will be pleased to wrap up both deals so early in pre-season after appointing Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
United are interested in signing a second centre-back, having held talks with Bayern Munich for £42m-rated Matthijs de Ligt and having had two bids of up to £50m for Jarrad Branthwaite rejected by Everton. However, it is understood that could be dependent on raising additional funds through player sales.
They could also look to offload another central defender after Raphael Varane left as a free agent and Willy Kambwala joined Villarreal for £9.9m.
United have rejected a bid from Fulham for Scott McTominay, believed to be lower than the £30m offer they rejected from West Ham a year ago, while the Hammers are weighing up a £15m move for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
United are hoping to sign a defensive midfielder and a right-back this summer and will consider offers for McTominay and Wan-Bissaka if they match the quality and value of their players.
Yoro has impressed with his performances at Lille and has now secured a big move.
United have already signed Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna this summer
Considered a generational talent, Yoro made his debut for Lille’s reserve team in 2022, signing his first professional contract with the club in January of that year.
His professional debut came in May 2022 at the age of 16, making him the second-youngest player to play for the club.
In total, he has made 55 appearances for the French club, scoring two goals and helping the club to fourth place in Ligue 1 last season.
He is also a youth international for France, and currently plays for the U-21 team, although he has also played at U-17, U-18 and U-19 levels.
