Manchester United has signed 18-year-old center-back Leny Yoro from Lille for a reported €62 million, potentially rising to €70 million with bonuses, according to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone.
Yoro, who was also courted by Real Madrid, has agreed to a five-year contract with an option for an additional year with Manchester United.
“Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honor,” Yoro said in a statement.
This acquisition follows the recent signing of forward Joshua Zirkzee and pushes Manchester United’s summer spending above €100 million, marking Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first transfer window as co-owner.
Real Madrid had reportedly offered €30 million for Yoro, as per The Athletic’s David Ornstein and Guillermo Rai, due to the player’s contract expiring in a year. Lille, valuing Yoro at €100 million, rejected the bid and urged him to consider Manchester United or face a potential season on the sidelines.
Yoro expressed satisfaction with Manchester United’s approach. “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,” he said. “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 teammates. I cannot wait to get started.”
Despite Yoro’s arrival, United may still seek additional defensive reinforcements. Potential targets include Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, with Everton reportedly demanding at least £70 million for Branthwaite.
Manchester United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth praised Yoro, stating that he “possesses every attribute needed to develop into a top-class center-back” and emphasized the club’s “fantastic record of developing young players … and giving them the required guidance, time, and patience to grow and flourish.”
Yoro, a right-footed central defender, has started 38 of 46 top-flight matches for Lille since his debut in May 2022 at the age of 16.
