Manchester United has strengthened its defense with the signing of 18-year-old French defender Leny Yoro from Lille. The Premier League club announced the five-year deal on Thursday, adding a promising young talent to their squad. Sources indicate that United paid a hefty 62 million euros (67.56 million USD) for Yoro, who has made a significant impact during his time at Lille, playing 60 games for the club. The center-back, who featured in 41 appearances last season, was recognized for his impressive performances by being included in the Ligue 1 team of the season. His contributions helped Lille secure a fourth-place finish and a Champions League qualifying spot.
Yoro’s talent has attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Real Madrid. His arrival at Old Trafford provides a much-needed boost to a defense that has been hampered by injuries and the departure of key defender Raphael Varane.
Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth expressed his enthusiasm for the signing, 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.” Ashworth continued, “Having had such an excellent start to his career we are excited to support him in reaching his immense potential here at Manchester United.”
Yoro joins Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee, who signed with United for 42.5 million euros on Sunday, as the club’s second major acquisition in recent days.
The young defender expressed his excitement about the move, saying, “Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour.” He added, “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.”
Yoro is confident that Manchester United provides the perfect environment for him to reach his full potential. He stated, “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 teammates.”
Yoro was initially named in Thierry Henry’s provisional France squad for the Paris Olympics but ultimately did not make the final cut. This latest signing demonstrates Manchester United’s commitment to investing in young talent and building a formidable squad for the future.
