Leny Yoro: Manchester United sign 18-year-old French defender from Ligue 1 side Lille

Leny Yoro is officially a Manchester United player after completing a move from Ligue 1 side Lille. The 18-year-old centre back signed for a reported fee of £52 million. 

Yoro, a promising young defender who became Lille's second-youngest player, is Erik ten Hag's second signing of the transfer window after striker Joshua Zirkzee joined the club from Bologna earlier this month.

Manchester United have signed 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro from Ligue 1 side Lille for a fee reported by the BBC to be £52 million.

Yoro, who is primarily a centre-back, joins United on an initial five-year deal, bolstering Erik ten Hag’s defensive options ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

"Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Leny Yoro has joined the club, subject to registration," the club wrote on their website. "The French defender has signed a contract until June 2029, with the option to extend for a further year."

After joining Lille’s youth system in 2017, Yoro made his debut for the first team in May 2022 at the age of 16, becoming the club’s second-youngest player.

The French defender has since made 46 appearances for Lille in Ligue 1 and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in world football.

"Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour," said the player.

"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."

United are reportedly still in the market for at least one other defender, with the club strongly linked to Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

It comes after United completed the signing of striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.

Zirkzee, who scored 12 goals in 37 appearances for Bologna last season, signed a five-year contract with the option of a 12-month extension.

🔴 This is home.

Bienvenue a Manchester United, @Leny_Yoro! 🙌
#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 18, 2024