Leny Yoro becomes Manchester United’s second summer acquisition, following Joshua Zirkzee. We examine the impact the defender is expected to have at Old Trafford.

How old is Leny Yoro?

If there was one position in Manchester United’s squad where reinforcements were almost certain this summer, it was at centre-back. After weeks of speculation regarding several potential targets, the club has finally made a decisive move.

Although there remains a possibility that their pursuits of Jarrad Branthwaite and Matthijs de Ligt could extend into another transitional summer, young French defender Leny Yoro has emerged as their key addition in this area.

Manchester United experienced significant issues at centre-back during the 2023-24 season. Manager Erik ten Hag struggled to establish a consistent pairing due to injuries and unavailability, which often seemed to impact their performance in other areas of the pitch.

Last season, their most frequent centre-back duo was Raphaël Varane and Jonny Evans, who started together just six times in the Premier League. For comparison, Arsenal’s pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães featured together in 34 league games and played a crucial role in the Gunners’ title challenge, helping them concede the fewest goals (29).

In the previous example, the effectiveness of the centre-back partnership is largely attributed to their high skill level as footballers, not just as defenders. A stable centre-back duo fosters confidence, which was a significant issue for Manchester United last season. Jonny Evans, who was signed as an emergency backup, played 23 league matches despite being a 35-year-old who hadn’t been a regular starter for a relegated Leicester City. This highlighted the shortcomings of United’s recent transfer strategies.

Leny Yoro: A New Era for Manchester United’s Defense

The addition of Leny Yoro signals a shift in United’s approach since last summer. With Varane, who was expensive and injury-prone, leaving after his contract expired, Yoro represents a new direction. At just 18, Yoro has already accumulated 46 league appearances for Lille and is considered one of the most promising young defenders globally. Although his £54 million price tag is substantial for someone so young, it reflects the high expectations surrounding him.

Yoro’s attributes are immediately impressive. Standing at 6-foot-3 and possessing notable speed, he is well-suited to the demands of modern centre-back play, especially with teams often employing high pressing and defensive lines. His long legs allow him to intercept and challenge effectively, often thwarting attackers with seemingly effortless interventions.

It’s somewhat similar to Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s playstyle, though Yoro tends to approach these situations with greater control and less urgency.

Overall, Yoro is a composed and elegant centre-back. Given his position, nationality, physique, and the player he seems to be replacing, it’s natural for fans to draw comparisons with Varane.

“When I saw him, I saw Raphaël Varane,” Lille academy director Jean-Michel Vandamme told Le Parisien regarding the first time he watched Yoro in action. “[He has] the same attitude, the same dedication, the same maturity at the same age, the same body shape. He’s a godsend.”

While the radar data may not show an exact match, team styles influence defensive activity—United’s defensive vulnerabilities last season led to Varane being more involved. Nonetheless, the similarities in their performance and style are evident.

Regarding Yoro’s maturity, many have noted similar observations throughout his early career, including his former Lille coach, Paulo Fonseca, who is likely the person most familiar with him.

“It’s not normal to have an 18-year-old like Leny, with the maturity and technical qualities he has,” Fonseca said late last year. “For me, he’ll be one of the best central defenders in France and probably all of Europe. He’s very well-balanced and there’s no doubt he’s going to be a great player.”

Yoro’s Technical Precision: A Balance of Safety and Skill in Passing

Yoro’s maturity and technical skill are evident in his passing. Last season in Ligue 1, he averaged 63.2 passes per 90 minutes, ranking 15th among defenders.

In open play, he achieved a 91.9% pass completion rate, surpassed only by three centre-backs who attempted at least 1,000 passes—all from Paris Saint-Germain (Marquinhos, Danilo, and Milan Skriniar).

Yoro’s reliability in possession makes him a reassuring presence with the ball. However, his high completion rate for centre-backs suggests a cautious approach to passing, as the 18-year-old is not particularly known for being adventurous.

With 42 open-play progressive passes for the season, making up just 2.3% of his total passes, Yoro ranks at the bottom among centre-backs who have played at least 200 passes. This indicates a preference for safe, short passes to nearby teammates rather than attempting more daring passes to players in advanced positions.

Playing it safe doesn’t necessarily imply a negative trait, nor should Yoro’s passing ability or range be undervalued solely for this reason. It becomes evident with a brief observation that he is technically very skilled, as noted by Fonseca.

In fact, among centre-backs who attempted at least 100 long passes, Yoro’s 51.4% completion rate ranked 11th in Ligue 1 last season. Additionally, he was the only central defender to attempt more than three switches of play—specifically 11—while completing all of them perfectly.

While Yoro’s distribution may not always be highly progressive, he offers solid reliability with the ball and understands that playing it safe can be effective. Additionally, he has the technical skills to take more risks when opportunities arise or when necessary.

Yoro’s approach to carrying the ball reflects a similar mindset. Last season, he averaged 8.9 meters per carry and 3.8 meters of progression with the ball, both below the Ligue 1 average for centre-backs.

Moreover, with only 44.2% of his ball carries classified as progressive, he also fell below the league average for centre-backs in this regard.

It’s important to remember that being progressive through passes or carries doesn’t necessarily indicate that a centre-back is exceptional; it largely depends on the role they are assigned.

Yoro’s Is A Young Defender with Notable Skills and Room for Growth

We must also keep in mind a crucial point: Yoro is only 18. He has already demonstrated himself to be a very capable and dependable passer, and there’s every reason to believe he can enhance his playmaking abilities as he continues to develop.

Yoro’s defensive acumen is also notable. His pace, as previously mentioned, is a significant asset, allowing him to recover swiftly and act as a strong counter against fast attackers. It also helps him stay with agile forwards in one-on-one situations. His impressive performance against Kylian Mbappé in the December 1-1 draw highlights his effectiveness.

While he wasn’t the Lille centre-back who most frequently engaged the opposition directly last season—often playing a more sweeping role, similar to Varane—Yoro’s 62.7% success rate in ground duels ranked 11th among central defenders (with a minimum of 900 minutes played), and his 69.4% tackle success rate was surpassed by only six centre-backs.

Another positive aspect related to Yoro’s performance in duels is his impressive record of averaging just 0.7 fouls conceded per 90 minutes last season, making him one of the cleanest centre-backs in Ligue 1. Given that he is likely to partner with the more aggressive Lisandro Martínez, this is a notable advantage and could also reflect Yoro’s maturity.

Yoro also showed a solid record in aerial duels, winning 64.9%. While this does not place him in the top 10 among centre-backs, it is a commendable achievement for a player who some may still consider somewhat slight. With continued physical development, Yoro could become a very imposing presence.

This signing is significant because Yoro is just beginning his career. The 18-year-old has already garnered praise from French football experts and demonstrates a controlled assertiveness in his play that is hard to overlook.

No player is ever a guaranteed success, and a move to the Premier League will test Yoro both technically and physically. However, he already appears to be highly skilled with clear potential for growth, which is an encouraging start.

Fans will hope that Yoro is not the only new centre-back acquisition and that a more experienced player like De Ligt could provide him with additional time to develop. If United supports his growth effectively—a task they have a good track record with for young players—they might be on their way to solidifying one position in their defense for the foreseeable future.