{{Short description|French footballer (born 2005)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Leny Yoro | image = RC Lens - Lille OSC (08-10-2023) 12 (cropped1).jpg | caption = Yoro warming up for Lille in 2023 | full_name = Leny Jean-Luc Yoro | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2005|11|13}} | birth_place = Saint-Maurice, France | height = 1.90 m<ref name="PremProfile">{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/118591/Leny-Yoro/overview |title=Leny Yoro: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Manchester United | clubnumber = 15 | youthyears1 = 2011–2012 | youthclubs1 = Alfortville | youthyears2 = 2012–2017 | youthclubs2 = Villeneuve-d'Ascq | youthyears3 = 2017–2022 | youthclubs3 = Lille | years1 = 2022–2023 | clubs1 = Lille B | caps1 = 13 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2022–2024 | clubs2 = Lille | caps2 = 46 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2024– | clubs3 = Manchester United | caps3 = 53 | goals3 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2021 | nationalteam1 = France U17 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam2 = France U18 | nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2023 | nationalteam3 = France U19 | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2023– | nationalteam4 = France U21 | nationalcaps4 = 10 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalyears5 = 2024 | nationalteam5 = France Olympic | nationalcaps5 = 1 | nationalgoals5 = 0 | club-update = 20:25, 24 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 06:49, 11 April 2026 (UTC) }} '''Leny Jean-Luc Yoro''' (born 13 November 2005) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{English football updater|ManchesU}} club Manchester United and the France under-21 national team.
A Lille academy graduate, Yoro joined the club as a child and then became one of the youngest first-team players when he made his professional Ligue 1 debut in May 2022, at the age of 16 years, six months and one day. After a first senior season in which he was mainly used as a substitute, he became one of Lille's cornerstones as a teenager in his second full season and made his European debut in August 2023. He was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year in the 2023–24 season. In July 2024, he signed for Manchester United for a reported fee of €62 million (£52.2 million), making him the most expensive player aged 18 or younger{{efn-ur|name=fn1|Although Kylian Mbappé signed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, he initially joined the club on loan before his €180 million transfer was completed the following summer, after he had turned 19 years old.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37557579/kylian-mbappe-now-fully-contract-psg-loan-expires |title=Kylian Mbappe now fully under contract at PSG as loan expires |last=Johnson |first=Jonathan |date=1 July 2018 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>}} and one of the most expensive centre-backs in history.
Yoro has represented France at under-17, under-18, under-19, under-21 and under-23 levels.
==Early life== Leny Jean-Luc Yoro<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/4110099 |title=2024/25 Premier League squad lists |publisher=Premier League |date=13 September 2024 |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> was born on 13 November 2005<ref name="PremProfile"/> in Saint-Maurice, France and spent his first years in the suburbs of Paris.<ref>{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/effectif/lille/76/leny-yoro |title=Leny Yoro |website=LOSC |access-date=18 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218050139/https://www.losc.fr/effectif/lille/76/leny-yoro |archive-date=18 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="VDN1223">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1409300/article/2023-12-15/leny-yoro-raconte-par-sa-mere-etant-plus-jeune-il-avait-mal-au-ventre-avant-d |title=Leny Yoro raconté par sa mère : " Il n'a jamais fait de conneries ! " |last=Fosseux |first=Olivier |date=15 December 2023 |newspaper=La Voix du Nord |access-date=23 July 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="Athletic0525">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6368945/2025/05/20/leny-yoro-manchester-united-europa-league |title=The rise of Manchester United's Leny Yoro – as told by his mum: 'When Leny wants to do something, he'll do it' |last=Harpur |first=Charlotte |date=20 May 2025 |website=The Athletic |access-date=30 May 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He is the son of Alain Yoro, a former footballer of Ivorian descent who played for Lille reserve team,<ref name="Athletic0525"/><ref name="ManUtdProfile">{{cite web |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/leny-yoro |title=Leny Yoro {{!}} Manchester United |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=22 July 2024 |archive-date=22 July 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240722235740/https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/leny-yoro |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lepopulaire.fr/limoges-87000/football/tournoi-lafarge-foot-avenir-de-limoges-a-la-decouverte-de-la-pepite-leny-yoro_14190468 |title=Tournoi Lafarge Foot Avenir de Limoges : à la découverte de la pépite Leny Yoro |date=24 September 2022 |newspaper=Le Populaire du Centre |access-date=23 July 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/leny-yoro-europes-best-sign-lille-new-william-saliba/blt87598d5c933102c5#cs3897178d74facd4a |title=Leny Yoro: Why Man Utd have gone all out to sign Lille's 'new William Saliba' |last=Martin |first=Richard |date=19 July 2024 |website=Goal (website) |access-date=23 July 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and Flore Baugnies who is of Northern French ancestry.<ref name="VDN1223"/><ref name="Athletic0525"/> Yoro is named after Lenny Kravitz, one of his mother's favourite singers.<ref name="Athletic0525"/> He has three younger brothers: Roméo, Eden and Esteban,<ref name="Athletic0525"/> of which two play within Lille youth system.<ref name="Parisien2023">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/le-portrait-de-raphael-varane-leny-yoro-le-prodige-du-losc-dont-revent-tous-les-grands-clubs-europeens-17-12-2023-OR6AFUR565DOVONO4O4VXPHMPU.php |title=Un « monstre » à seulement 18 ans : Leny Yoro, l'autre prodige du foot français que l'Europe s'arrache |last1=Aflalo |first1=Alexandre |last2=Mechenoua |first2=Marc |last3=Quarez |first3=Benjamin |date=17 December 2023 |newspaper=Le Parisien |access-date=30 May 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Kays-benatia-eden-yoro-et-eden-cherki-quand-les-freres-ou-fils-de-s-amusent-au-tournoi-sans-frontiere/1555848 |title=Kays Benatia, Eden Yoro et Eden Cherki : quand les « frères ou fils de » s'amusent au Tournoi Sans Frontière |last=Troude |first=Théo |date=21 April 2025 |newspaper=L'Équipe |access-date=30 May 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
At the age of five, he started playing football at Alfortville where he stayed one season before moving with his family in the Lille area.<ref name="Athletic0525"/> He then pursued his football learning in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, where he grew up after his parents separated,<ref name="Athletic0525"/> and finally joined Lille's youth system in 2017.<ref name="Athletic0525"/><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lepetitlillois.com/2022/04/20/leny-yoro |title=Leny Yoro, la force tranquille qui monte |last=Bja |first=Rayan |date=20 April 2022 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=18 February 2023}}</ref> Ten years later, at 15 years old, he got his start in the UEFA Youth League, coming off the bench in the 79th minute against Sevilla on 20 October 2021. He hence chose to wear the number 15 shirt when he then turned professional.<ref name="Athletic0525"/><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2022/08/08/leny-yoro-portera-le-numero-15-cette-saison-avec-le-losc |title=Leny Yoro portera le numéro 15 cette saison avec le LOSC |last=Lemichel |first=Hugo |date=8 August 2022 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Lille=== ====2022–23: Debut as a professional player==== {{quote box|width=24%|align=left|quote="Leny at that time was still 16 and the idea then was that it would just be for pre-season. After just two days I said, ‘No, no he will stay with us here’. For me, players don’t have age if they have talent. [...] It was so easy to understand that he would be important to the team. In all my years as a coach, I’ve never seen such a young player with so much maturity. He has so much class, so much elegance. He’s a beautiful player."|source=– Paulo Fonseca about Yoro's first steps<ref name="Athletic0424">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5393540/2024/04/11/leny-yoro-lille-real-madrid-profile-ligue-1 |title=Leny Yoro is one of Europe's best talents. No wonder Manchester United and Real Madrid are on the case |last=Stafford-Bloor |first=Sebastian |date=11 April 2024 |website=The Athletic |access-date=17 July 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>}}
Yoro debuted with Lille reserve team in 2022, and quickly signed his first professional contract with the club on 10 January 2022.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lepetitlillois.com/2022/01/10/officiel-premier-contrat-professionnel-pour-leny-yoro |title=Officiel : Premier contrat professionnel pour Leny Yoro |last=Bja |first=Rayan |date=10 January 2022 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=18 February 2023}}</ref> He made his professional debut with Lille in a 3–1 Ligue 1 win over Nice on 14 May 2022 in the penultimate match of the season. At 16 years six months and one day of age, Yoro is the second youngest Lille player, behind Joël Depraeter-Henry and taking the second place from Eden Hazard.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lepetitlillois.com/2022/05/15/nouveau-record-de-precocite-au-losc-pour-leny-yoro |title=Nouveau record de précocité au LOSC pour Leny Yoro |last=Lemichel |first=Hugo |date=15 May 2022 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=18 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="Equipe180922">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Leny-yoro-plus-jeune-joueur-de-lille-a-etre-titulaire-depuis-oumar-dieng-en-1989/1354864 |title=Leny Yoro, plus jeune joueur de Lille à être titulaire depuis Oumar Dieng en 1989 |last=Lafont |first=Romain |date=18 September 2022 |newspaper=L'Équipe |access-date=18 February 2023}}</ref> In early August, he extended his contract with his club until June 2025.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/index.php/node/9686 |title=Leny Yoro prolonge avec le LOSC jusqu'en 2025 ! |date=2 August 2022 |website=LOSC |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>
Next season, he became a permanent member of the professional squad named to play in the 2022–23 Ligue 1. On 17 September, he played his first professional match as a starter in a 2–1 home win against Toulouse.<ref name="Equipe180922"/> His then-manager Paulo Fonseca stated: "Leny deserved this start, given the way he worked with the team. He deserved to have an opportunity. He had a good match. [...] Being 16 years old, he gave a solid performance, with a lot of character."<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2022/09/18/paulo-fonseca-apres-losc-toulouse-fc-leny-yoro-meritait-cette-titularisation |title=Paulo Fonseca après LOSC – Toulouse FC : " Leny Yoro méritait cette titularisation " |last=Da Rocha |first=Joseph |date=18 September 2022 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> Fourth centre-back behind veteran and captain José Fonte, Tiago Djaló and Alexsandro, he ended the season with 13 Ligue 1 appearances, including 8 starts, and a total of more than 750 minutes played.<ref name="soccerway">{{Soccerway|leny-yoro/782130|access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>
====2023–24: Breakthrough and first European matches==== [[File:RC Lens - Lille OSC (08-10-2023) 28.jpg|thumb|right|Yoro with Lille in 2023]] For his second whole season as professional, Yoro became a full-time starter as a right centre-back and played 32 matches out of 34 Ligue 1 fixtures.<ref name="soccerway"/><ref name="LPL2704">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2024/05/27/leny-yoro-losc-2e-joueur-le-plus-utilise-a-son-poste-dans-lhexagone |title=Leny Yoro (LOSC), 2e joueur le plus utilisé à son poste dans l'Hexagone |last=Marcant |first=Raphaël |date=27 May 2024 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> He was the second most used French championship player with a total of 3690 minutes in all competitions at only 18 years old.<ref name="LPL2704"/> On 24 August 2023, Yoro scored his first goal at the club in a 2–1 victory over Rijeka, in the first leg of the 2023–24 Conference League play-off round.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/ligue-europa/ligue-europa-conference-grace-au-premier-but-d-yoro-en-pro-lille-prend-l-avantage-sur-rijeka-20230824 |title=Ligue Europa Conférence : grâce au premier but d'Yoro en pro, Lille prend l'avantage sur Rijeka |last=Henninot |first=Julien |date=25 August 2023 |newspaper=Le Figaro |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> A month later, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal for Lille with a cross-shot volley in a 2–2 away draw against Rennes.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/ligue-1-rennes-arrache-le-nul-contre-lille-2-2-dans-un-choc-avec-leurope-16-09-2023-6INIVYTLUJDOVHWMJ4EGMLM75Y.php |title=Ligue 1 : Rennes arrache le nul contre Lille (2–2) dans un choc avec l'Europe |date=16 September 2023 |newspaper=Le Parisien |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> He scored his first goal before his supporters at Stade Pierre-Mauroy with a header on 12 November 2023 in a 1–1 draw against Toulouse FC.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/node/12145 |title=LOSC-TFC (1–1) : pousser n'est pas gagner |last=Pousset |first=Maxime |date=12 November 2023 |website=LOSC |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> In April 2024, he started and played every minute in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals two legs against Aston Villa in which Lille nearly made it to the semi-finals but lost on penalties.<ref name="soccerway"/> Finishing with his team in 4th place, he contributed to the successful domestic season and the new European qualification of the Mastiffs which is led to play the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/actualites/2024-05-19/losc-nice-le-compte-rendu |title=LOSC-Nice (2–2) : L'Europe est au bout du chemin malgré tout |last=Pousset |first=Maxime |date=19 May 2024 |website=LOSC |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>
According to studies published in October 2023, Leny Yoro is the second defender to win the most duels among all the players playing in Europe this season, across all age groups with 89% of defensive duels won.<ref name="LPL111023">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2023/10/11/leny-yoro-deuxieme-meilleur-defenseur-central-deurope-en-termes-de-duels-remportes |title=Leny Yoro, deuxième meilleur défenseur central d'Europe en termes de duels remportés |last=Lécrigny |first=Gabin |date=11 October 2023 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> Yoro was also the best player under 23 in defensive ground duels won.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2023/10/04/leny-yoro-maitre-dans-les-duels-au-sol-avec-le-losc |title=Leny Yoro, maître dans les duels au sol avec le LOSC |last=Marcant |first=Raphaël |date=4 October 2023 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> Alongside Virgil van Dijk, he was the only defender across all European leagues to be both a top 10% player in defensive duel success rate and top 10% in aerial duel success rate.<ref name="LPL061123">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2023/11/06/losc-leny-yoro-seul-virgil-van-dijk-legale-en-europe |title=LOSC : Leny Yoro, seul Virgil Van Dijk l'égale en Europe |last=Lécrigny |first=Gabin |date=6 November 2023 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> As of March 2024, Yoro was also one of the Ligue 1 best passing players with a total of 1537 passes made – the seventh in the league across all positions – and a completion rate of 92.3%.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2024/03/24/losc-yoro-andre-alexsandro-parmi-les-joueurs-qui-font-et-reussissent-le-plus-de-passes-en-ligue-1 |title=LOSC : Yoro, André, Alexsandro parmi les joueurs qui font et réussissent le plus de passes en Ligue 1 |last=Marcant |first=Raphaël |date=24 March 2024 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>
At the end of the season, Yoro was nominated for the 2023–24 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year<ref>{{cite AV media |date=30 April 2024 |title=Football – Trophées UNFP : Les nommés pour le meilleur Espoir de L1 |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/tv/replay/les-nommes-pour-le-meilleur-espoir-de-l1/20190123 |access-date=17 July 2024 |work=L'Équipe |via=Dailymotion}}</ref> and named in the Team of the Year.<ref name="Equipe130524">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Trophees-unfp-sept-joueurs-du-psg-dans-l-equipe-type-de-la-saison-2023-2024-en-ligue-1/1467415 |title=Trophées UNFP : sept joueurs du PSG dans l'équipe type de la saison 2023–2024 en Ligue 1 |date=13 May 2024 |newspaper=L'Équipe |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> Widely regarded by pundits as one of the best young prospects and a future world class defender,<ref name="Multiple">Multiple sources: *{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5393540/2024/04/11/leny-yoro-lille-real-madrid-profile-ligue-1 |title=Leny Yoro is one of Europe's best talents. No wonder Manchester United and Real Madrid are on the case |last=Stafford-Bloor |first=Sebastian |date=11 April 2024 |website=The Athletic |access-date=17 July 2024 |url-access=subscription}} *{{cite news |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/nxgn-2024-best-wonderkids-football/bltc65fc7aa012056f4 |title=NXGN 2024: The 50 best wonderkids in football |last1=Maston |first1=Tom |last2=Gambino |first2=Simone |date=19 March 2024 |website=Goal |access-date=17 July 2024}} *{{cite news |url=https://talksport.com/football/1970743/leny-yoro-manchester-united-kylian-mbappe-eden-hazard-record |title='Kylian Mbappe of defenders' Leny Yoro is 6ft 3in teenager who beat Eden Hazard record and now set for Manchester United move |last=Johnson |first=James |date=17 July 2024 |website=Talksport |access-date=17 July 2024}} *{{cite AV media |last=Ogden |first=Mark |date=17 July 2024 |title='One of the BEST young defenders!' Leny Yoro set to join Man United? {{!}} ESPN FC |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaqKzRUmPAQ |access-date=17 July 2024 |publisher=ESPN FC |via=YouTube}} *{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5569647/2024/06/18/leny-yoro-transfers-latest |title=Leny Yoro: Why Man Utd, Real Madrid, Liverpool and PSG want the Lille centre-back |last=Raghuraman |first=Anantaajith |date=18 June 2024 |website=The Athletic |access-date=13 April 2025 |url-access=subscription}} </ref> he stated after the UNFP awards ceremony: "It’s a bit of a childhood dream that has come true. It ends a awesome season that we had with the supporters, the staff and the team which has been incredible. [...] It's an honour to have so much attention. When you're a footballer, you have to expect it a little. We know that our performances are examined. Afterwards, I play my football. If there are people watching, it's honestly positive for me and it doesn't impact me on the pitch in any way. I play like I've always played, no matter who is watching me or will watch me."<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2024/05/14/emotion-reconnaissance-et-fierte-5-minutes-avec-leny-yoro-losc-apres-la-ceremonie-des-trophees-unfp |title=Émotion, reconnaissance et fierté, 5 minutes avec Leny Yoro (LOSC) après la cérémonie des Trophées UNFP |last=Marcant |first=Raphaël |date=14 May 2024 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>
===Manchester United=== ====2024–25: Going abroad and new chapter in England==== On 18 July 2024, Yoro officially signed for Premier League club Manchester United on a five-year contract, with the option of an additional year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/Transfer-news-Leny-Yoro-joins-Man-Utd-from-Lille |title=Transfer news: Yoro signs from Lille |date=18 July 2024 |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/actualites/2024-07-18/bonne-route-leny-yoro-dogue-pour-toujours |title=Bonne route Leny Yoro, Dogue pour toujours |date=18 July 2024 |website=LOSC |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> According to various columnists and reporters, the financial details of the transfer include an initial and base fee of €62m (£52.2m) and a maximum of €8 million (£6.7 million) add-ons depending on sporting conditions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5626457/2024/07/17/leny-yoro-manchester-united-transfer |title=Leny Yoro undergoing Manchester United medical ahead of proposed transfer |last=Ornstein |first=David |date=17 July 2024 |website=The Athletic |access-date=18 July 2024 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=17 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717143155/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5626457/2024/07/17/leny-yoro-manchester-united-transfer |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Comment-yoro-est-devenu-un-diable-rouge-de-manchester-united/1483285 |title=Mercato : comment Yoro est devenu un Diable Rouge de Manchester United |last1=Degorre |first1=Damien |last2=Tanzi |first2=Loïc |date=17 July 2024 |newspaper=L'Équipe |access-date=18 July 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="SkySportDE">{{cite news |language=de |url=https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/manchester-united-steht-vor-transfer-von-leny-yoro-vom-osc-lille/13179325/34130 |title=Manchester United steht vor Transfer von Leny Yoro vom OSC Lille |last=Plettenberg |first=Florian |date=17 July 2024 |website=Sky Sport |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> This move made him the most expensive player aged 18 or younger{{efn-ur|name=fn1}} and one of the most expensive centre-backs in history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.football365.com/news/most-expensive-premier-league-teenagers-ever-man-utd-liverpool |title=The most expensive Premier League teenagers ever: Only Chelsea signing pricier than Yoro |last=Stead |first=Matt |date=19 July 2024 |website=Football365 |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.givemesport.com/most-expensive-defenders-football-soccer-history |title=20 Most Expensive Defenders in Football History |last=Bishop |first=Callum |date=19 July 2024 |website=GiveMeSport |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://twentytwo13.my/sports/leny-yoro-an-expensive-gamble-for-manchester-united-but-worth-a-punt |title=Leny Yoro – an expensive gamble for Manchester United, but worth a punt |date=19 July 2024 |website=Twenty Two 13 |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> His contract includes an annual salary around £5.9m gross plus £1.7m in possible bonus payments per season.<ref name="SkySportDE"/> He was given the squad number 15 – the same one he had in Lille – which was previously worn by club legend Nemanja Vidić.<ref name="ManUtdProfile"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://onefootball.com/fr/news/manchester-united-complete-signing-of-highly-rated-lille-defender-39772868 |title=Manchester United complete signing of highly-rated Lille defender |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Peter |date=18 July 2024 |website=OneFootball |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://strettynews.com/2024/07/18/leny-yoro-set-for-iconic-shirt-number-at-manchester-united |title=Leny Yoro set for iconic shirt number at Manchester United |last=O'Donnell |first=Dale |date=18 July 2024 |website=Stretty News |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> Before eventually choosing to join United, Yoro was also targeted by Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and English rivals Liverpool.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/mercato-manchester-united-et-le-real-madrid-en-concurrence-pour-la-signature-de-leny-yoro-14-07-2024-GWGJNQ7CYRDQXODL6M7EW6LPEU.php |title=Mercato : Manchester United et le Real Madrid en concurrence pour la signature de Leny Yoro |last=Quarez |first=Benjamin |date=14 July 2024 |newspaper=Le Parisien |access-date=18 July 2024 |archive-date=17 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717165207/https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/ligue-1/mercato-manchester-united-et-le-real-madrid-en-concurrence-pour-la-signature-de-leny-yoro-14-07-2024-GWGJNQ7CYRDQXODL6M7EW6LPEU.php |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/07/18/leny-yoro-ineos-learning-from-mistakes-of-man-utd-past |title=Leny Yoro deal shows Ineos are learning from mistakes of Man Utd's past |last=Ducker |first=James |date=18 July 2024 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=18 July 2024 |url-access=limited}}</ref> Two weeks after his signing, he broke his foot during a pre-season friendly match against Arsenal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/07/17/manchester-united-leny-yoro-transfer-lille-real-madrid |title=Double injury blow may force Man Utd to accelerate signings |last=Ducker |first=James |date=1 August 2024 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=3 November 2024 |url-access=limited}}</ref>
On 4 December, he made his debut in a 2–0 defeat to the same opposition at the Emirates Stadium in the 2024–25 Premier League, coming off the bench in the 59th minute.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/leny-yoro-makes-man-utd-debut-away-to-arsenal-4-december-2024 |title=Leny Yoro makes United debut at Arsenal |last=Partington |first=Mikey |date=4 December 2024 |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref> On 10 April 2025, Yoro scored his first goal for the Red Devils in a 2–2 away draw at Lyon, in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg.<ref name="DT0425">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/04/10/lyon-vs-manchester-united-live-score-updates-europa-league |title= Andre Onana's two errors cost Manchester United dear against Lyon |last=Burt |first=Jason |date=10 April 2025 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=11 April 2025 |url-access=limited}}</ref> He levelled things up at 1–1 with a header in the first-half stoppage time on a Manuel Ugarte's assist.<ref name="DT0425"/> Yoro started again in the second leg and made a praised performance in the suspenseful 5–4 win after extra time, in which he executed a viral head tackle saving.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lepetitlillois.com/2025/04/18/un-tacle-de-la-tete-fait-le-tour-du-monde-leny-yoro-elimine-paulo-fonseca-ex-losc-et-lol-en-quarts-de-finale-de-ligue-europa |title=Un tacle de la tête fait le tour du monde, Leny Yoro élimine Paulo Fonseca (ex-LOSC) et l'OL en quarts de finale de Ligue Europa |last=Marcant |first=Raphaël |date=18 May 2025 |website=Le Petit Lillois |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> The Red Devils eventually lost the final to Tottenham Hotspur where he became United's second-youngest starter in a European final after Brian Kidd who played in the 1968 European Cup final.<ref name="EveningNews05">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=George |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-just-three-untouchables-31710573 |title=Manchester United have just three untouchables in this summer's transfer window |date=24 May 2025 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> After gradually establishing himself as a starter in Ruben Amorim's defence,<ref name="EveningNews05"/><ref name="Utd0725">{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Adam |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/why-leny-yoro-is-looking-the-part-ahead-of-pre-season-start |title=Why Leny is looking the part |date=18 July 2025 |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=2 August 2025}}</ref> he is seen as one of the few bright spots in the club bad phase,<ref>{{cite news |last=Luckhurst |first=Samuel |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-player-ratings-season-31721949 |title=Manchester United player ratings of the season with two 8/10s and three 3/10s |date=26 May 2025 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="Utd0725"/><ref name="EveningNews08">{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leny-yoro-already-doing-what-32181354 |title=Leny Yoro is already doing what he wants to do for Manchester United this season |last=Smith |first=George |date=1 August 2025 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |access-date=2 August 2025}}</ref> having played more than 2,000 minutes for his new club and starting twenty-two matches in all competitions after his injury recovery.<ref name="soccerway"/><ref name="EveningNews08"/> <!---====2025–26 season====--->
==International career== Yoro is a youth international for France, having played for every France youth team from the France U17s to the France U23s.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="FFF">{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/10204-yoro-leny/fiche.html |title=Leny Yoro |website=FFF |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref>
In August 2021, he began his international career when he made an appearance for France U17s, at the age 15 years 9 months and 8 days.<ref name="FFF"/> The following year, he was called up to the France under-18 team, playing his first match against Estonia on 21 September 2022<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/en/node/9918 |title=Internationaux : Yoro et Burlet victorieux, Virginius accroché |date=22 September 2022 |website=LOSC |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> and making five appearances in total at this level.<ref name="FFF"/> Yoro then played at under-19 level when he was called up for UEFA European Championship qualifying competition in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.fff.fr/article/9859-tour-elite-vingt-joueurs-convoques.html |title=Tour Élite : vingt joueurs convoqués |last=Mayen |first=Philippe |date=16 March 2023 |website=FFF |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> He made his debut against Norway on 25 March.<ref name="FFF"/> The same year, he quickly took a step up and was called-up to the France under-21 squad by coach Thierry Henry.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Tanguy-kouassi-forfait-leny-yoro-le-remplace/1417751 |title=Tanguy Kouassi forfait, Leny Yoro le remplace |date=3 September 2023 |newspaper=L'Équipe |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> He earned his first cap on 7 September in a 4–1 home win against Denmark at 17 years 9 months and 25 days old.<ref name="FFF"/> He then played three games in the 2025 UEFA European Championship qualification.<ref name="FFF"/>
On 22 March 2024, Yoro made his debut at under-23 level in a friendly match against Ivory Coast in the wake of the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, starting alongside his then-Lille teammates Lucas Chevalier and Bafodé Diakité.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.fff.fr/article/12201-a-reaction-face-la-cote-d-ivoire-3-2-.html |title=À réaction face la Côte d'Ivoire (3–2) |last=Loyant |first=Richard |date=22 March 2024 |website=FFF |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> Next month, he was called up for the Olympics football tournament in a preliminary list<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.fff.fr/article/12621-la-pre-liste-pour-les-jo.html |title=La pré-liste pour les JO |last=Mayen |first=Philippe |date=3 June 2024 |website=FFF |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> but was eventually retained by Lille due to the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round played in August before the start of the Ligue 1 season.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.eurosport.fr/football/paris-2024/2024/paris-2024-le-losc-refuserait-de-liberer-chevalier-yoro-et-diakite-pour-les-jo_sto20007670/story.shtml |title=Paris 2024 : Le LOSC refuserait de libérer Chevalier, Yoro et Diakité pour les JO |last=Lemaître |first=Clément |date=29 May 2024 |website=Eurosport |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>
==Style of play== A right-footed {{height|m=1.90}} tall defender,<ref name="TheAnalyst">{{cite news |url=https://www.theanalyst.com/articles/leny-yoro-why-man-utd-wanted-him |title=Leny Yoro: Why Man Utd Were Desperate to Beat Real Madrid to 18-Year-Old Centre-Back |last=Benson |first=Ryan |date=22 July 2024 |website=The Analyst |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> Yoro is a slender and agile centre-half who can play in both a four-defender<ref name="TheAnalyst"/><ref name="CoachesVoice">{{cite news |url=https://www.learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/leny-yoro-position-style-of-play-manchester-united |title=Leny Yoro position and style of play |date=18 July 2024 |website=Coaches' Voice |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="FranceInfo">{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.franceinfo.fr/sports/foot/mercato/il-sera-l-un-des-meilleurs-defenseurs-centraux-d-europe-ce-qu-il-faut-savoir-sur-le-francais-leny-yoro-nouvelle-recrue-de-manchester-united_6673245.html |title="Il sera l'un des meilleurs défenseurs centraux d'Europe"... Ce qu'il faut savoir sur le Français Leny Yoro, nouvelle recrue de Manchester United |last=Sidoine |first=Leni |date=18 July 2024 |website=France Info Sport |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> and three-back formation, on both the right and the left of the back-two or three.<ref name="EveningNews05"/><ref name="Utd0725"/><ref name="EveningNews08"/> He has been praised for his ball-playing ability and technical composure,<ref name="Multiple"/><ref name="EveningNews05"/><ref name="Utd0725"/><ref name="EveningNews08"/><ref name="FranceInfo"/> his defensive positioning and playing intelligence. A quick player with long legs,<ref name="Utd0725"/> he is able of making chase down tackles, with "a habit of prodding the ball away seemingly from out of nowhere either when an attacker is attempting to shield or looking to run in behind."<ref name="TheAnalyst"/><ref name="FranceInfo"/> He often wins defensive duels, having good defence rates and being difficult to dribble.<ref name="LPL111023"/><ref name="LPL061123"/><ref name="CoachesVoice"/><ref name="FranceInfo"/> His mindset clearly appears as a key in his precocity.<ref name="Multiple"/><ref name="Utd0725"/> The Athletic emphasised Yoro's "calm and composed performances, which have quickly taken him to the top" during his first professional seasons and his Manchester United debut starts.<ref name="Athletic0525"/> A man rather quiet and reserved in life, Yoro is seen as a leader on the pitch.<ref name="Utd0725"/> For example, he was the captain of his under-13 team. One of his youth coaches remembered: “As soon as he stepped onto the field, he grew in stature. I put him at right-back, up front, in every position, he was immense. On the field, he was a winner, very important for communication and relationships with others.”<ref name="Athletic0525"/> His coaches often praise his personality, his mature character, and he is frequently compared to Raphaël Varane<ref name="Athletic0525"/><ref name="Parisien2023"/><ref name="TheAnalyst"/><ref name="FranceInfo"/> or Rio Ferdinand.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/20/new-recruit-leny-yoro-impresses-to-offer-preseason-promise-for-united |title=New recruit Leny Yoro impresses to offer pre-season promise for United |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |date=20 July 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=2 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/05/09/manchester-united-lenny-yoro-rio-ferdinand-comparisons |title=Leny Yoro has made it through the Manchester United storm to prove his class |last=Ducker |first=James |date=9 May 2025 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=2 August 2025 |url-access=limited}}</ref>
==Personal life== After studying within Lille academy, Yoro graduated from high school in management sciences (STMG).<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.sofoot.com/breves/leny-yoro-a-recu-son-baccalaureat |title=Leny Yoro a reçu son baccalauréat |date=24 April 2024 |magazine=So Foot |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> Before joining Manchester United and moving to Northern England, he still lived with his mother and his brothers.<ref name="Athletic0525"/> He has two dogs, named Kingston and Doogie.<ref name="Athletic0525"/> Yoro is a devout Christian, sporting multiple tattoos related to his faith and regularly quoting Bible verses on social media.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1519796/article/2024-11-05/leny-yoro-les-nouveaux-tatouages-made-lille-et-tres-spirituels-de-l-ancien |title=Leny Yoro : les nouveaux tatouages « made in » Lille et très « spirituels » de l'ancien défenseur du LOSC |last=Delerue |first=Adrien |date=5 November 2024 |newspaper=La Voix du Nord |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref> He used to attend an evangelical church when he was living in France and playing for Lille.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=7 August 2024 |title= Cartes sur Table #3 – Témoignage de Rémy Cabella, footballeur professionnel |language=fr |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFRNYEFIC1o |access-date=10 April 2025 |publisher=Église Lille Métropole |via=YouTube}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 24 May 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Lille B |2021–22<ref name="bstats">{{cite web |url=https://www.scorebar.com/gb/players/leny-yoro/782130/ |title=Leny Yoro Career Stats |website=scorebar.com |access-date=27 November 2025}}</ref> |National 3 |9||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- |2022–23<ref name="bstats"/> |National 3 |4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !13!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!13!!0 |- |rowspan="4"|Lille |2021–22<ref name="worldfootball"/> |Ligue 1 |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |2022–23<ref name="worldfootball"/> |Ligue 1 |13||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||15||0 |- |2023–24<ref name="worldfootball"/> |Ligue 1 |32||2||3||0||colspan="2"|—||9{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||1||colspan="2"|—||44||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !46!!2!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!9!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!60!!3 |- |rowspan="3"|Manchester United |2024–25<ref name="worldfootball"/> |Premier League |21||0||3||0||1||0||8{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||1||0||0||33||1 |- |2025–26<ref name="worldfootball">{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe792187/leny-yoro/club-matches/ |title=Leny Yoro Statistics Club Matches |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=24 May 2026}}</ref> |Premier League |32||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !53!!0!!4!!0!!1!!0!!8!!1!!0!!0!!66!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !112!!2!!9!!0!!1!!0!!17!!2!!0!!0!!139!!4 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Manchester United'''
* UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2024–25<ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=Tottenham vs Man Utd {{!}} UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Final |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2044465--tottenham-vs-man-utd/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |publisher=UEFA |language=en}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2023–24<ref name="Equipe130524" />
==Notes== {{notelist-ur}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/leny-yoro Profile] at the Manchester United F.C. website *{{FFF player}} *{{UEFA player}}
{{Manchester United F.C. squad}} {{2023–24 Ligue 1 UNFP Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoro, Leny}} Category:2005 births Category:Living people Category:People from Alfortville Category:Footballers from Val-de-Marne Category:French men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Lille OSC players Category:Manchester United F.C. players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Championnat National 3 players Category:Premier League players Category:France men's youth international footballers Category:France men's under-21 international footballers Category:French expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Black French sportspeople Category:French sportspeople of Ivorian descent Category:21st-century French sportsmen Category:French Christians