🔴 This is home.

Bienvenue a Manchester United, @Leny_Yoro! 🙌
#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 18, 2024

Manchester United have signed Leny Yoro from Lille in the region of £52.18m until 2029.

The 18-year-old French central defender has been labelled by football journalists and experts as 'Kylian Mbappé' of defenders.

Im on holidays but the interesting thing on the Yoro deal is that Real Madrid didn’t want to pay more than 30m, PSG not more than 45m for an 18 year old free in a year but United paid 63m! Yoro is an incredible talent and only the future will tell which strategy was the right one

— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) July 17, 2024

Yoro has been on the radar by European elite clubs such as Paris Saint Germain, Liverpool and current European champions Real Madrid for the whole of last season.

Initially Real Madrid was the preference for Yoro, and it must have tempted him to join after seeing the Spanish Club unveiled Mbappé earlier this week.

Lenny Yoro won 65% of his aerial duels, 61% of his ground duels & completed 92% of his passes in Ligue 1 last season.

He is the only defender under-23 in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues to win over 60% of his aerial & ground duels as well as completing over 90% of his passes.

Top class. pic.twitter.com/ZXGx4VYedT

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) July 17, 2024

However Real Madrid was not willing to pay the required fee, offered a very low amount which Lille turned down and thought they could wait a further year when Yoro’s contract expired.

Yoro was ready to make the big step now rather than later. Last season Yoro appeared 44 times in all competitions for Lille, scored three goals, helped his side to fourth place and got into the Ligue 1 team of the season.

LOSC confirms today that it has reached an agreement with @ManUtd for the transfer of Leny Yoro.

Leny, we are proud of the person and the footballer you have become. Thank you for everything and good luck in your new adventure in England.

Lille will forever remain your home ❤️ pic.twitter.com/y2P3Acdr7s

— LOSC (@LOSC_EN) July 18, 2024

This is a huge statement by Manchester United snatching one of the sought after defenders in World football away from Real Madrid.

Le 11 TYPE de @Ligue1UberEats c'est ...

62 buts
40 passes décisives
un bon nombre de sauvetages miraculeux
49 clean sheets

Bravo messieurs ⭐️ #TropheesUNFP pic.twitter.com/AqDDv9KpMo

— UNFP (@UNFP) May 13, 2024

After joining his new club, Yoro said: “Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour.

"Since my first conversations with the club, they set out a clear plan for how I can develop in Manchester as part of this exciting project and showed a lot of care for me and my family.

"I know about the history of young players at Manchester United and feel it can be the perfect place to reach my potential and achieve my ambitions, together with my new team-mates. I cannot wait to get started."

New city, same determination ✍️
#MUFC pic.twitter.com/8DC2zMCKh3

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 18, 2024

Yoro will join the red devils which has esteemed history for having top class defenders such as Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Speaking about Ferdinand, the former defender had a huge role in persuading Yoro about the exciting project to join Manchester United.

Ferdinand, currently on holidays after doing punditry during the European Championship for BBC was delighted by the 18-year-old announcement and he shared a heartwarming message which Yoro would cherish for the rest of his football career.

Leny Yoro is a red, is a red, is a red,
Leny Yoro is a red…… @leny_yoro 🤝🏽 @ManUtd #MUFC pic.twitter.com/mCfPH5pDHv

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) July 18, 2024

Yoro will be eager to make a huge impact at his new club and follow in the footsteps of a fellow French defender Raphael Varane who has recently left after his contract expired.

One French centre-back leaves, and another joins. 🥹🇫🇷❤️ pic.twitter.com/M6kfI9Fus3

— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) July 18, 2024

For Manchester United fans unfamiliar with his game, Yoro is comfortable sitting back in defence going 1v1 and enjoys having duels with Mbappé.

pic.twitter.com/FujfCPDw6C

— Jack Fawcett (@JackFawcett1704) July 17, 2024

He is a towering presence with his long legs useful for recovery defending and timed tackles, going the long distances while carrying the ball from the defensive box, good aerially in both boxes and relishes ground duel with a slim physique.

— Front foot defending — intercept
— Steps into midfield — quick feet to evade opponent
— Carries into final 3rd
— Passes wide pic.twitter.com/mwqBOWY3W4

— Charlie (@ThreadmanChaza) July 17, 2024

Since he is so young, there are lots to improve on and he has chosen Manchester United as the perfect place to further develop and live up to the tag ‘generational talent’ most expect from him.

Le premier but en professionnel de Leny Yoro, filmé depuis derrière le but 🎥

C'est magnifique ! 🤩#LOSCHNKR pic.twitter.com/fZlofk9gNZ

— LOSC (@losclive) August 25, 2023

Under the new co ownership INEOS has shown already their authority on the transfer market by moving efficiently, a clear structure for their transfer targets which has been criticised by the previous regime run by the Glazers.

Manchester United are busy in the summer transfer window after signing Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna last week.