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Manchester United have finalised the acquisition of 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro from French Ligue 1 team Lille, the clubs confirmed on Thursday.
Manchester United agreed to pay €62 million ($67.6 million), plus an additional potential €8 million ($8.7 million) in add-ons, to secure the France under-21 international.
Yoro chose to join United despite interest from Real Madrid, as sources revealed that the Spanish club opted not to enter a bidding war with the Premier League side for the center-back.
Sources added that Yoro informed Madrid of his decision to sign with United on Tuesday night after the Spanish club failed to make an offer for him.
“Joining a club with the prestige and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is a tremendous honor,” Yoro stated in the announcement. “From my first discussions with the club, they outlined a clear plan for my development in Manchester as part of this exciting project, and showed significant care for me and my family.
“I am aware of the history of young players at Manchester United and believe it is the perfect place to reach my potential and achieve my goals, alongside my new teammates. I am eager to get started.”
The defender will be joining Joshua Zirkzee, who signed from Bologna on Sunday, at Old Trafford.
Both acquisitions were endorsed by the club’s new football leadership, established in recent months following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival as a minority owner, as well as by club scouts and manager Erik ten Hag, sources indicated.
“Leny is one of the most promising young defenders in world football; he has all the qualities needed to become a top-class center-back,” Manchester United’s new sporting director Dan Ashworth said in a club statement. “Given his excellent career start, we are thrilled to support him in achieving his vast potential here at Manchester United.
“This club has an excellent track record of developing young players, whether homegrown or recruited, providing them with the guidance, time, and patience needed to grow and thrive. Under Erik ten Hag and our superb staff, we will ensure that Leny has the ideal platform to attain the success everyone at the club strives for.”
Zirkzee and Yoro are effectively replacing forward Anthony Martial and defender Raphaël Varane, who both left the club earlier this summer.
The club has not ruled out additional defensive signings, as they continue to have interest in Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. However, transfer fees remain a potential issue, with ESPN reporting that United already had a £50 million ($64 million) bid rejected for Branthwaite.
Yoro is regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young defensive talents after becoming a regular first-team player at Lille. He made his senior debut at 16 at the end of the 2021-22 season.
NANCY MBAMALU
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