DEAL COMPLETED: Manchester United finally won the race over Liverpool in signing £60m superstar, fee agreed on a 5yrs deal, announcement to be done tomorrow morning
Man Utd pipped Liverpool to Leny Yoro deal after repeating Chelsea transfer trick
Leny Yoro has signed for Manchester United on a five-year deal after the Premier League side agreed a $67m fee with Lille, despite the defender having just a year on his contract left
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by Ben Crawford
Leny Yoro at his Manchester United unveiling
Leny Yoro has signed for Manchester United(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Manchester United has secured the signing of Lille defender Leny Yoro, having agreed to his $67million fee despite his contract expiring in a year’s time.
Yoro completed his medical and signed his contract on Thursday night, providing United with a new center-back to fill the void left by Raphael Varane’s departure. The deal initially seemed complex from United’s perspective, as Real Madrid was Yoro’s preferred destination and the transfer fee was still under negotiation.
Liverpool were also reportedly interested in Yoro, but opted not to match United’s bid. And United replicated their strategy used when they signed Mason Mount from Chelsea, paying a premium for a player nearing the end of his contract, thereby outmaneuvering clubs hoping to sign him on a free transfer next year.
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Trent Alexander-Arnold latest, Leny Yoro blow, Nico Williams ‘bid’
READ MORE: Liverpool double transfer highlights quiet strategy set to continue under Arne Slot
Yoro inked a three-year contract with Lille in 2022, which had been set to expire in June 2025. This situation almost compelled Lille to accept United’s offer, even though Yoro had his sights set on a move to the Champions League winners next summer.
Depending on one’s viewpoint, United has either shrewdly or inadvertently paid the player’s fee. By shelling out a hefty $67m, United have effectively snatched a player from his preferred club. Real Madrid were keen to wait until Yoro’s contract ran its course, but Lille wanted to secure some form of payment for him. This allowed United to swoop in and complete a deal for the Frenchman.
The price tag was perhaps steeper than one might hope for a player nearing the end of his contract, but it was necessary to outbid another interested club.
