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Manchester United have officially announced the shirt number that new signing Youri Tielemans will wear following the completion of his transfer from Aston Villa earlier today.

After failing to secure several of their top midfield targets, the Red Devils turned to alternative options to strengthen Michael Carrick’s midfield setup.

In a surprising turn of events, United executed a swift move to activate a previously undisclosed £35 million release clause in Tielemans’ contract with Aston Villa, securing his signature from Villa Park.

When compared to the inflated prices being discussed for other Premier League midfielders with less experience and achievement than the Belgian international, the fee appears to be an excellent bargain.

There have been some reservations regarding Tielemans’ age—he turns 30 next season—and a few injury concerns in recent years. Nonetheless, his technical prowess, work ethic, and leadership qualities on and off the field make him a valuable addition to the squad.

Tielemans recently captained Belgium to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, where they suffered a heartbreaking last-minute defeat following an error by Senne Lammens. The Sint-Pieters-Leeuw-born midfielder is known for his commanding presence in the dressing room.

During his time at Aston Villa, he served as the heartbeat of Unai Emery’s midfield. His spectacular strike in the Europa League final in May earned Villa their first major trophy in three decades, while his performances were pivotal in their Champions League campaign the previous season.

The £35 million deal, officially confirmed this evening, represents an astute piece of business for Manchester United’s management. Combined with the £50 million spent to acquire Chelsea’s dynamic midfielder Andrey Santos, the total cost equals the amount Tottenham Hotspur paid to hijack the transfer of Mateus Fernandes.

Manchester United have confirmed that Tielemans will don the No.18 shirt, previously worn by Casemiro. INEOS opted not to trigger the one-year extension clause in the 34-year-old Brazilian’s contract, allowing him to depart as a free agent.

Casemiro is expected to join Inter Miami on a free transfer once he returns from his post-World Cup break. The MLS club, co-owned by David Beckham, also features Lionel Messi among its star-studded lineup.

Casemiro’s departure opens up one of the most iconic shirt numbers in Old Trafford’s history, particularly for midfielders, even though only six players have worn it in the Premier League era.

The number was initially taken by Bruno Fernandes after his high-profile transfer from Sporting CP in 2020. The Portuguese playmaker made an immediate impact at Old Trafford before later switching to his preferred No.8, which is also tattooed on his arm.

Most famously, club legend Paul Scholes, affectionately known as the ‘Ginger Prince,’ wore the No.18 shirt throughout his illustrious 18-year career with the Red Devils. Widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders in Premier League history, Tielemans will undoubtedly aim to emulate even a fraction of Scholes’ influence at the Theatre of Dreams.

Other lesser-known players to have worn the No.18 include England winger Ashley Young, Darren Ferguson—son of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson—and Simon Davies, a member of the FA Youth Cup-winning Class of ’92.

Featured image: Alex Grimm via Getty Images