Youri Tielemans to Man United: Why Red Devils agreed surprise transfer of Aston Villa, Belgium star

Manchester United have found the transfer market tricky to navigate this summer, but it appears they are starting to make some significant moves.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Red Devils are in the process of finalising the signing of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.

The midfielder, who enjoyed a strong World Cup with Belgium as they reached the quarterfinals, looks set to join Michael Carrick's side before their preseason preparations begin in earnest.

It was not a deal that was anticipated earlier in the window, but it seems United have the deal as an opportunity too good to turn down.

Here is why they are poised to spring one of the bigger surprises of the window to date.

MORE: Why Man United want Chelsea's Andrey Santos as part of midfield rebuild

Is Youri Tielemans going to Man United?

David Ornstein's report for The Athletic on July 13 states that United are in the final stages of agreeing a transfer for Tielemans.

Fabrizio Romano also reported the deal was effectively done and that the player would undergo a medical later this week.

Youri Tielemans transfer fee

Tielemans reportedly has a release clause in his Aston Villa contract worth £35 million ($46.9 million). United's decision to pay this fee in full has enabled them to progress the deal quickly, with Villa unable to try to negotiate a higher figure.

While it is a low sum for a player of Tielemans' pedigree, it still represents a healthy profit for Villa, who signed the midfielder on a free transfer in 2023 after his contract with Leicester City had expired.

Why Man United are signing Youri Tielemans

United were not linked with Tielemans before the transfer window opened, which makes the announcement of his impending move a major surprise.

The 20-time English champions appear to have pivoted to the Tielemans deal after the expected signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson hit a stumbling block. An agreement worth an initial €40.5 million ($47m / £35m) was in place between the clubs, but apparently complications relating to his medical saw United put the Ederson deal on hold. The Athletic claims the transfer is not necessarily dead in the water, but it is not progressing for now.

Andrey Santos is anticipated to sign from Chelsea, but United had always prioritised multiple midfield signings in this window. The position was already a problem area for the team, and the departure of Casemiro when his contract expired, coupled with the serious knee injury Manuel Ugarte sustained on World Cup duty with Uruguay, made recruitment essential.

Tielemans' release clause meant this was always a deal that United, or any other interested club, could pursue at short notice. Once the player indicated he would like to join, the Red Devils were in a strong position to conclude a deal quickly, even though Villa boss Unai Emery was eager to keep him.

At 29, Tielemans is older than many of United's main transfer targets, but his elite-level quality, not to mention Premier League experience, make this a sensible signing. Factor in the relatively low cost — United should still be able to pursue other targets in addition to Tielemans — and it becomes one of the smarter signings of the window to date.