Manchester United have signed Belgian international Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, after his participation with his country in the World Cup ended. The club clarified in a statement on Tuesday that Tielemans, the Belgium captain, is joining subject to completing the official registration procedures, noting that the player signed a contract until June 2031. The 29-year-old has played in England since 2019 when he joined Leicester City from Monaco, before moving to Aston Villa in 2023 after his contract with the 2016 league champions ended. Tielemans, who has 90 caps for Belgium, has just returned from the World Cup, where he helped lead the national team to the quarter-finals. The Belgian played a key role last season in leading Aston Villa to win the Europa League title at the expense of German side Freiburg, and finishing fourth in the Premier League, directly behind his new club United. United's official website quoted Tielemans as saying: 'It is hard to describe how proud I am to join Manchester United. Signing for a club of this size and prestige is an incredible feeling, and it is the culmination of years of dedication since I first fell in love with football.' He added: 'I have had the opportunity to achieve successes in the world of football, and that has only increased my determination to achieve more. The ambition within the club is very clear; we are all determined to compete for the biggest titles in the coming years.' Meanwhile, sporting director Jason Wilcox said: 'Youri has consistently been one of the standout midfielders in the Premier League over the past seven years. He possesses all the technical qualities, along with the ambition and mentality needed to succeed at United.' He added that the Belgian will bring more composure, creativity and leadership to the team with his influence and experience, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. Also on Tuesday, United signed Welsh international goalkeeper Karl Darlow for two years after his departure from Leeds United. Darlow left Leeds after his contract expired last June, having played 38 matches for Daniel Farke's side since joining from Newcastle United in 2023 on a three-year contract.