Youri Tielemans completes free transfer to Aston Villa from Leicester

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

The Belgium international spent five seasons at the King Power Stadium having first joined the club on loan from Monaco in 2019.

Tielemans made 31 appearances in the Premier League last season as the Foxes were relegated on the last day of the season.

The 26-year-old looked destined to leave the club last summer as the Foxes endured a dismal transfer window, with Brendan Rodgers struggling to strengthen his squad ahead of the season.

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

Despite speculation that the former Anderlecht star would make the switch to Old Trafford, Unai Emery stayed in last season to convince Tielemans to be 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 following the Spaniard’s arrival last season.

Tielemans revealed in a conversation with the club after his arrival, that meeting with Emery played a big part in his decision to join the club.

“To be honest, when I had a few conversations 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, which saw them just outside the relegation zone in October, the club’s revitalization began with the appointment in November.

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

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

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

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

‘A lot. Playing in Europe is always a great achievement and the way the manager has led the team back to Europe is a great achievement and we just have to be ready for that.

“European cup matches are always special, so hopefully it will be good nights.”