Youri Tielemans
Belgian midfielder and national team captain, known for his long-range strikes and leadership.
Youri Marion A. Tielemans (born 7 May 1997) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Manchester United and captains the Belgium national team.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Youri Marion A. Tielemans
- Born
- 7 May 1997
- Birthplace
- Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
- Height
- 1.76 m / 5 ft 9 in
- Position
- Midfielder
- Current club
- Manchester United
Lore & Background
Tielemans began his career at Anderlecht, where he made 184 appearances and scored 35 goals across four seasons. He won the league title twice and in 2017 was chosen as the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year. He is the youngest Belgian to play in the UEFA Champions League, making his debut in the competition at the age of 16 years and 148 days. After two years at Monaco in Ligue 1, he joined Leicester City in 2019, initially on loan and then for an estimated fee of £33 million. He played 195 total games and scored 28 goals, including the only goal of the 2021 FA Cup final. In 2023, when his contract expired, he joined Aston Villa. Tielemans made 134 appearances over three seasons at Villa, winning the UEFA Europa League in the 2025–26 season. He joined Manchester United in July 2026.
Reader's Guide
Tielemans represented Belgium at several youth levels before gaining his first cap for the senior team in November 2016, aged 19. He was part of the squad that came third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, also featuring at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
Did You Know?
- He was appointed permanent captain of Belgium in September 2025.
- He scored a brace in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 against Senegal, including a penalty in extra time.
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