Manchester United have completed the signing of 18-year-old Lille defender Leny Yoro, beating Real Madrid to the deal.
The French defender has signed a five-year contract with an option for an additional year.
Yoro, who has already earned his France U21 debut under the guidance of Thierry Henry, has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in European football.
With just a year remaining on his Lille contract, Manchester United have acted quickly to secure his services.
The deal is worth over £50m and marks a significant coup for the Red Devils. Yoro’s arrival is seen as a major boost for the club, who have been looking to strengthen their defense following a series of injuries to key players.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Manchester United,” Yoro said in a statement. “Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour. I’m excited to get started and work with the coaches and players to achieve our goals.”
Manchester United fans have been eagerly awaiting news of the transfer throughout the day, and Yoro’s arrival is set to be a major talking point in the coming weeks.
Thierry Henry, who gave Yoro his France U21 debut, praised the young defender’s potential, but warned that he will make mistakes as he develops in his role.
“Leny has got all the attributes to be a top-class defender,” Henry said. “But he’s still young and will make mistakes. He’s got to learn from them and keep working hard.”
Yoro completed his medicals on Wednesday and flew into Manchester earlier this week. He is now expected to join up with his new teammates for pre-season training ahead of the new campaign.
