Aston Villa confirmed an agreement has been reached to make Youri Tielemans our first signing of the summer in what is a really positive start to the transfer window.
As per the club’s statement, the 26-year-old will officially join us on July 1 when he becomes a free agent, as he now looks ahead to the next chapter in his career after spells with Leicester City, Monaco and Anderlecht.
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Albeit he struggled last season as Leicester couldn’t avoid relegation from the Premier League, Tielemans has shown enough in his career thus far to make us feel confident that this is another smart signing from Unai Emery and Villa.
While we’re expected to be busy this summer as the Spanish tactician continues to strengthen the squad and mould it into his own, this is a really positive way to kick-start our recruitment, and time will tell just how important a signing Tielemans will prove to be.
Tielemans a good fit for Emery, savvy business on free transfer
Naturally, time will tell whether or not Tielemans proves to be a positive addition to the squad, but on the face of it, it’s a sensible signing of a player who undoubtedly has plenty of talent, experience and technical quality to fit into the style of play being implemented at Villa by Emery.
As we look to play a possession-based game, to maintain control of encounters through being more composed and calm on the ball to patiently prise defences open and nullify the threat of the opposition, Tielemans has the characteristics needed to fit into that system and way of playing, similarly to Douglas Luiz.
His control on the ball, ability to get out of tight situations in a crowded midfield, his passing range, tenacity, creativity and eye for goal from distance all make him a valuable addition to the group.
Still only 26, the Belgian ace has his peak years ahead of him, but with almost 200 appearances at Leicester and Anderlecht and 65 with Monaco, totalling 445 outings while he has contributed 69 goals and 60 assists in that time along with five goals in 58 caps for Belgium, he is a signing for now too as he’s ready to come in and make his mark immediately.
Further, he gives Emery another option and solution in midfield to offer something different tactically, but he adds quality competition and depth to keep pushing those currently at the top of the pecking order while giving Villa the opportunity to rotate and not see a major drop-off in quality while doing so as we hope to play in excess of 50 games next year.
The fact that we’re signing Tielemans on a free transfer makes this move all the more satisfying as that is excellent business from the club, who have put together one of the best midfields in the Premier League for very little outlay after Boubacar Kamara’s arrival on a free transfer last summer too.
Jacob Ramsey was of course an academy graduate, while John McGinn and Douglas Luiz were signed for sensible fees that look to be a steal now, and so while results on the pitch will dictate just how positive the recruitment was, this is really clever business from Villa again.
It’s also important not to discount in any way the impact and influence Emery will have on Tielemans. We’ve seen what the Villa boss has done for the likes of Tyrone Mings, Douglas Luiz and Ollie Watkins to name but a few, as he has improved and developed us both individually and collectively.
He will have thought long and hard about what Tielemans can add and what he believes he can bring out of him to become a better player, and after what was likely a lengthy analytical process of his strengths, weaknesses and potential, Emery will be relishing the opportunity to work with him and making him a key part of what we do moving forward.
He,ll start well then fade and if your in a match where you need physicality,he,ll disappear.