Youri Tielemans completes free transfer to Aston Villa from Leicester

Youri Tielemans has joined Aston Villa on a free transfer after his contract at Leicester expired at the end of last season.

The Belgium international spent five seasons at the King Power Stadium after initially arriving at the club on loan from Monaco in 2019.

Tielemans made 31 appearances in the Premier League last season as the Foxes suffered relegation on the final day of the campaign.

The 26-year-old has seemed destined to depart the club last summer as the Foxes endured a dismal transfer window, with Brendan Rodgers struggling to bolster his side ahead of the campaign.

Manchester United had been linked for a move for the midfielder several times in recent years, with Erik ten Hag reportedly earmarking Tielemans as a backup option if the club failed to sign Frenkie de Jong last summer.

However, despite speculation that the former Anderlecht star would make the move to Old Trafford persisting throughout last season, Unai Emery swooped in to convince Tielemans to be a part of his project at Villa Park.

Emery met with the player in Belgium last month to convince him of the role he would play going forward, as the Villains look to build on their success they enjoyed following the Spaniard’s arrival next season.

Tielemans revealed in an interview with the club following his arrival that meeting with Emery played a large role in his decision to join the club.

‘To be honest, when I had a few chats with the manager, his ambition, his passion, and also the way he led the team impressed me and made me decide to come to Aston Villa.’

After a stuttering start to the campaign under Steven Gerrard that saw them just outside the relegation zone in October, the club’s revitalisation began with the appointment in November.

The 26-year-old revealed that meeting with Unai Emery influenced his decision to join the club

Tielemans joins the club after a four-year stint at the King Power Stadium with Leicester

A particularly strong run during the final stages of the season saw Villa lose just two of their last 15 Premier League games, to pip Tottenham to a Europa Conference league spot on the final day of the campaign.

Tielemans added that the prospect of playing for the club is something that excites him as a player.

‘Very much. Playing in Europe is always a great achievement and the way that the manager had led the team back to Europe is an amazing achievement and we just have to be ready for that.

‘European cup competitions are always special so it’s going to be good nights hopefully.’