‘Steal’ – Mikel stunned by Man Utd’s £35m signing
John Obi Mikel has described Manchester United’s £35million signing of Youri Tielemans as a “steal” and named the Belgian as his standout midfield transfer of the summer.
United moved quickly to sign Tielemans from Aston Villa in July, activating the release clause in his contract before handing him a five-year deal at Old Trafford.
The 29-year-old arrived with considerable Premier League experience after spells with Leicester City and Villa, but Mikel believes United have secured exceptional value.
Speaking in comments reported by Pulse Sports, the former Chelsea midfielder reacted to the fee by saying: “My God, that’s a steal.”
He also selected Tielemans as the best midfield addition of the window.
John Obi Mikel says Youri Tielemans to Manchester United, is the signing of the summer.
Chris: "Out of all the midfield signings this summer, who stands out to you?"
John Obi Mikel: "For me, it's Youri Tielemans. Honestly… how did Manchester United get him for £35 million?… pic.twitter.com/MS9uF61snu
— HK (@HKFinalThird) August 5, 2026
Youri Tielemans backed to improve Man Utd
Mikel highlighted Tielemans’ composure in possession, set-piece quality and ability to operate in different midfield roles.
More importantly for Michael Carrick, he believes the Belgium captain has joined Old Trafford capable of making United a better team immediately.
That was a major attraction when United completed the transfer.
Tielemans was one of two significant midfield additions alongside Andrey Santos, with ReadManUtd’s latest assessment of Carrick’s transfer strategy highlighting how the club have attempted to add greater control and balance in the middle of the pitch.
There is still work for Carrick to do before the Premier League campaign begins, but £35m already looks relatively modest in a summer when several midfielders have commanded considerably larger fees.
Tielemans must now justify Mikel’s verdict on the pitch.
After captaining Belgium at the World Cup and winning the Europa League with Villa last season, United have signed a player expected to contribute immediately rather than one requiring several years to develop.
James Chettle is a journalism graduate from the University of Liverpool with a strong passion for football and digital sports media. A lifelong Chelsea supporter, James manages dedicated social media pages for fellow Blues fans, giving him a close understanding of supporter culture and the conversations that matter most to audiences. Alongside his Chelsea-focused work, he writes across the Dave.Sport network, covering West Ham United, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Manchester United. His journalism spans breaking news, transfers, match analysis and the wider stories shaping clubs across the Premier League.
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