Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Youri Tielemans on a free transfer. The midfielder left Leicester City upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season. And amidst a significant amount of speculation over his future in recent weeks, he has chosen Villa Park as his next destination.
Medicals for the transfer took place shortly prior to the announcement, and Villa have announced his arrival on their social media profiles. The Belgian has agreed a contract until 2027, and only the official signing remains for the deal to be wrapped up.
Tielemans had offers from several clubs which were in the Champions League, including Arsenal. But, he has instead chosen to sign for Unai Emery’s side, who have qualified for the Europa Conference League next season. And in the process, he has become their first signing of the summer as they aim to bolster their squad to compete in Europe next season.
Youri Tielemans Aston Villa free transfer confirmed
“Aston Villa is delighted to announce that the club has reached an agreement to sign Youri Tielemans,” an official statement from the Midlands club read.
“The Belgian international will officially become a Villan on July 1 after his contract with Leicester City has expired.”
He isn’t the only player that has left Leicester City as a free agent following their relegation. Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey and Tete are among the others that have walked away as free agents upon the expiry of their contracts. James Maddison, on the other hand, is expected to leave in the coming weeks for a Premier League club.
What can Youri Tielemans bring to Aston Villa?
The midfielder joined Leicester City in 2019, on an initial loan move which was later turned permanent. He played a pivotal role in helping the Foxes get to the Europa League. His biggest highlight, however, was his screamer against Chelsea in the FA Cup final which helped them win the trophy in 2021.
Tielemans made 195 appearances for Leicester City over four years. However, he was dropped to the bench due to lack of form in the final stages of Brendan Rodgers’ spell in charge. Now, he has taken up a fresh challenge with Aston Villa under Unai Emery.
After a very successful 22/23 season, the former Arsenal and Villarreal manager will be looking to build further. And with a player entering their prime like Youri Tielemans, the Spaniard will be able to implement a forward-thinking style of play rather than being conservative. He will also be able to provide a fair bit of defensive cover alongside Douglas Costa and John McGinn.
Villa were also in the race to sign Marco Asensio from Real Madrid, who left as a free agent. But, they could not match PSG’s offer, and they have won the race for the forward. The Midlands club have been linked with former Liverpool player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as well. But, they are yet to make him a formal offer to bring him to the club, as he is available as a free agent.
