Youri Tielemans has admitted that his high-profile transfer to Manchester United caught him off guard, revealing he had little expectation of leaving Aston Villa during the summer window before the deal came together rapidly. The Belgium international joined Old Trafford on a five-year contract after United activated his £35 million release clause, ending a three-year stint at Villa Park.

The Transfer He Did Not See Coming

Tielemans disclosed that conversations with Manchester United had taken place on two previous occasions, neither of which led anywhere. Rather than losing sleep over it, the midfielder stayed composed. 'There have been two times that I spoke with the club, but it did not achieve anything, so I was just very calm about it,' he said, as quoted by Sky Sports.

With those talks going cold, the 29-year-old shifted his attention entirely to international duty, leaving transfer business to his representatives. 'It was mainly my agent that was dealing with it; I was more so focused on the World Cup, which was a big thing for me. When it was time that it was accepted and acceptable, I would say then I was made aware,' he explained.

World Cup Focus, Then Old Trafford Calls

'I was not expecting much [a summer move], to be fair. I was just focused on my football, focused on the World Cup, trying to perform as best as I could for my country. Then every summer something can happen,' Tielemans added. The sequence underlines how swiftly the deal was concluded once United formally triggered the release clause.

Tielemans arrives with eight years of Premier League experience, having first joined the English top flight before his spell at Leicester City — where he was relegated alongside the club — before landing at Aston Villa as a free agent. At Villa, he played a pivotal role in the club's Europa League triumph, one of the more remarkable achievements in recent English football.

Why He Believes the Timing Is Right

Asked whether the window to join a traditional Premier League giant had closed on him, Tielemans was unequivocal in his rejection of that idea. 'Not really, because I know that at Villa we did amazing things. We achieved the Europa League win, which was great for the club, but there are still clubs above Aston Villa, and Manchester United is one of them,' he said.

The midfielder is keen to contribute to what he senses is a renewed energy at the club. 'Especially at this moment, there is a very positive mood in and around the club, so I am just hopeful that we can have a great story together,' he said. He also paid tribute to his former employers: 'Aston Villa is a great club, and I owe them the world. They have put me back at my best level, so I am very thankful.'

Reunion With Jonny Evans on the Coaching Staff

One familiar face awaiting Tielemans at Carrington is Jonny Evans, his former Leicester City teammate, now a member of the Manchester United coaching staff. 'Jonny has always been a main character. He has always been trying to educate young players, and he welcomed me at Leicester and now here. It is a bit weird to see him as a staff member, to be honest, but it is going great, and he knows me; he knows what I need and what I can bring to the team, so it helps me as well,' Tielemans said.

Having already featured in pre-season, Tielemans will look to cement a starting role in United's midfield as the new Premier League campaign gets under way.