A Major Transfer in the Making
Lille’s promising centre-back, Leny Yoro, is on the brink of joining Manchester United, undergoing a medical examination ahead of signing a five-year contract.
The agreement, which includes an optional additional year, marks a significant step for the 18-year-old French youth international and the Premier League club.
How old is Leny Yoro?
18
The Financial Details of Leny Yoro Deal
The transfer’s maximum valuation stands at €70 million, inclusive of add-ons, with the initial fee agreed at €62 million (£52 million; $67.9 million). This deal between Manchester United and Lille represents a considerable investment in Yoro, a player widely regarded as a generational talent in the footballing world.
Decision and Agreement
Yoro’s initial preference was a move to Real Madrid. However, the Spanish giants showed no indication of meeting the valuation agreed upon by United and Lille. Consequently, Lille, keen to avoid losing Yoro on a free transfer when his contract expires in June 2025, favored the deal with the Premier League side. This shift in direction has seen Yoro warm to the idea of donning the iconic red jersey of Manchester United.
Competition for Yoro’s Signature
Despite his initial inclination towards Real Madrid, Manchester United faced stiff competition from clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. United’s persistence and strategic efforts have been pivotal in securing Yoro’s commitment, a testament to their determination to bolster their defensive ranks with top-tier talent.
United’s Defensive Strategy
Securing Yoro is a crucial step for Manchester United, aiming to strengthen their defense.
Although they have expressed interest in other defenders like Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, any further acquisitions will likely depend on player departures to create financial and squad flexibility.
Yoro’s Playing Style and Potential
Yoro is often compared to Liverpool’s star defender Virgil van Dijk due to his defensive acumen and ability to read the game. His tendency to stay deeper in defense, coupled with his agility and caution in passing and ball carrying, makes him a reliable last-man defender. These attributes position him well to step into Manchester United’s starting lineup while still allowing room for development and growth over the coming seasons.
Next Steps and Finalization
While the medical examination is a significant step, some aspects still need addressing before the transfer is fully finalized. However, barring any unexpected developments, Manchester United is close to securing their primary defensive target. This acquisition is set to enhance their squad depth and defensive stability, essential for competing at the highest levels of English and European football.
Who is Leny Yoro?
But who is Yoro? What is the French wonderkid’s life like both on the pitch and off it? Here is everything United fans need to know about Yoro, including his parents, social media profiles, position, and much more.
Leny Yoro is a young French professional footballer who currently plays for Lille OSC, a club in Ligue 1. He joined Lille’s youth academy and quickly progressed through the ranks, making his debut for the senior team at a very young age. Manchester United are now hot on the tail of Yoro, so he could be the next big star destined to light up Old Trafford.
Yoro’s Age and Physical Attributes
Yoro was born on 13th November 2005 and is currently 18 years old. The Frenchman will turn 19 years old in November 2024. Yoro’s height is believed to be 1.90m, which would make him 6ft 3in. Yoro’s weight is currently reported as 73kg, which would roughly make him 11.4st. Yoro has been known to use his right foot more than his left on the ball.
Yoro’s Position and Playing History
Yoro’s main position is a defender, and he plays primarily as a centre-back at club level. Yoro’s only senior club has been Lille after emerging through the French club’s youth academy. The defender was tipped to wear the No 15 shirt for Lille in the 2024-25 season. Yoro previously wore No five, No six, and No 15 in the 2023-24 campaign with Lille. Yoro, who also wore No 33 in the 2021-22 season for Lille, has had the No 4, No 18, and No 5 shirts during his youth career with the France team.
Yoro’s Personal Life and Background
According to French newspaper La Voix du Nord, Yoro’s mother is called Flore Baugnies. The identity of Yoro’s father remains unconfirmed at the time of writing. But the defender’s dad is believed to be of Ivorian descent. Yoro was born in Saint-Maurice and his native homeland is France.
The defender’s ethnicity is French, and Yoro has chosen to represent France at youth level in his career. However, Yoro could still choose to represent the Ivory Coast in the future thanks to his father being of Ivorian descent.
Social Media Presence
Yoro is on Instagram, and his current handle is ‘lenyyoro.’ The defender’s Instagram account has been verified with a blue checkmark since December 2022, with Yoro signing up to the platform in 2017.
Yoro has 139k followers on the Meta-owned social media platform at the time of writing. Yoro has an account on X and his username is ‘@leny_yoro.’ The account does not have a blue checkmark, but Yoro confirmed his identity after he responded to a parody profile on X.
— Leny yoro (@leny_yoro) March 31, 2024
Yoro has 30.8k followers on the Elon Musk-owned platform at the time of writing.
Yoro’s Injury and Performance History
Yoro had only one injury during his spell with Lille’s senior team. The defender suffered from adductor pain during the 2023-24 season. The aforementioned injury led to Yoro missing one match for Lille in the 2023-24 campaign.
Yoro in EA Sports FC 24
Yoro is on EA Sports FC 24, and the defender has an overall rating of 77. The Frenchman’s career potential on EA FC 24, formerly part of the FIFA franchise, can reach an overall rating of 86. Yoro has two-star skill moves and has a three-star weak foot on EA FC 24.
Yoro’s Transfer and Contract Details
Yoro was linked with Real Madrid in the 2024 summer window amid Manchester United’s interest in the player. It was reported at the time that Yoro’s preferred move was to the Spanish capital before United agreed on a deal to sign him from Lille. It is believed that Manchester United have agreed on a deal worth over £50m to land Yoro from French side Lille.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that Yoro will sign a five-year contract with United once his medical in the UK is completed. Yoro’s contract with United will expire in June 2029.
However, the Red Devils will have the option to extend his contract by a further 12 months. The defender’s contract with Lille was set to expire in 2025. Journalist Santi Aouna on X, formerly known as Twitter, has claimed that Yoro could earn a £145,000-per-week salary at Old Trafford.
Leny Yoro’s potential move to Manchester United signifies a significant transfer in the footballing world. The young defender’s transition from Lille to one of the Premier League’s most storied clubs marks a new chapter in his career. As Manchester United aims to solidify their defense, Yoro’s addition promises to bring both immediate impact and future potential to Old Trafford.
