Manchester United midfielder Youri Tielemans has explained his decision to leave Aston Villa, saying his move to Old Trafford represents a step up in his career.
Tielemans joined Manchester United this summer in a £35m transfer after the club activated the release clause in his Aston Villa contract, bringing an end to a transfer pursuit that had previously failed to materialise.
The Belgium international revealed that Manchester United had previously explored the possibility of signing him on two occasions — first in 2019 following his successful loan spell at Leicester City and again in 2022.
According to BBC Sport on Wednesday, Tielemans said, “There had been two times that I spoke with the club, but it did not achieve anything,” Tielemans said.
The midfielder said he had not anticipated leaving Villa during the current transfer window, as his attention had been on his football and Belgium’s World Cup campaign.
“I was very calm. I was not expecting much this summer, to be fair. I was just focused on my football, focused on the World Cup and trying to perform my best for my country,” he said.
Nevertheless, Tielemans acknowledged that a transfer was possible because of the release clause contained in his contract.
“But you know every summer something can happen, and obviously I was aware of the clause,” he added.
Although he has now departed Villa, the 29-year-old spoke warmly about his time at the club and credited the Premier League side with helping him regain his best form.
“I am very thankful to Aston Villa. I owe them the world. It is a great club, we did amazing things, and they have put me back to my best level,” Tielemans said.
However, the midfielder believes Manchester United occupies a higher position in the football hierarchy.
“But there are clubs above Villa, and Manchester United is one of them,” he said.
Tielemans described his arrival at Old Trafford as a significant milestone but stressed that securing the transfer was only the beginning of his ambitions.
“It is a great achievement for any footballer to end up here. It means you have done well in your career,” he said.
“But it does not end there. I want to be successful.”
The Belgian midfielder will now focus on establishing himself at Manchester United and helping the club challenge for major trophies after finally completing a move that had been discussed on two previous occasions.