Manchester United has secured the signing of Leny Yoro from Lille for £52 million ($68 million), beating out Real Madrid for the 18-year-old defender.
Leny Yoro has quickly become one of the most promising young defenders in Europe. He made his Ligue 1 debut at just 16 and secured a first-team spot at 17, even outshining World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti. Yoro also became Lille’s youngest goalscorer in a decade.
Born in the suburbs of Paris to a family from the Ivory Coast, Yoro moved to Lille at six and joined their academy at 12. He progressed rapidly, representing France at the Under-17 and U18 levels. His senior debut came at 16 years, six months, and one day, making him Lille’s second-youngest player, surpassing Eden Hazard.
In the following season, Yoro made 15 appearances for Lille, including 10 starts. His early experiences and rapid development have marked him as a standout talent, prompting Manchester United to make a significant investment in his future.
