Defender Axel Tuanzebe sues former club Manchester United over medical advice

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe has launched legal action against the club, alleging negligent medical advice during his time at Old Trafford.

The 27-year-old, who signed with Burnley earlier this month, filed a high-value claim—believed to exceed £1 million—at the High Court last week. The case relates to a period beginning in July 2022 and involves an undisclosed injury.

Tuanzebe was sidelined for 195 days during his final season at United before being loaned to Stoke City in January 2023, where he managed just five appearances.

A product of United’s academy, Tuanzebe joined the club at the age of eight and made his senior debut in 2017. He went on to make 37 first-team appearances before leaving as a free agent in the summer of 2023, later joining Ipswich Town in September.

Highly regarded as a youth prospect, Tuanzebe captained United at every level and featured in the 2021 UEFA Europa League final—his last appearance for the club—where he scored in the penalty shootout during their dramatic 11–10 loss to Villarreal.

The former England Under-21 international, who now represents the Democratic Republic of Congo, also had three loan spells at Aston Villa and a brief stint at Napoli in 2022.

Both Manchester United and Tuanzebe’s legal representatives, Simons Muirhead Burton, declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.