Who is Leny Yoro?
Regarded by many as one of the world’s top young center-back prospects, Leny Jean Yoro is a French professional footballer Born November 13, 2005, who plays as a center-back for premier league club Manchester United.
| Date of birth | 13 November 2005 |
| Place of birth | Saint-Maurice, France |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Position(S) | Centre-back |
Early Life
Leny Yoro was born on November 13, 2005, in Saint-Maurice, France, to Alain Yoro, a former Ivorian footballer who played for the Lille reserve team, and Flore Baugnies, of French descent. Leny spent his early years in Alfortville, a suburb of Paris, where he began playing football at the age of five. After one season in Alfortville, Yoro moved with his family to Villeneuve-d’Ascq, where he continued his football development. In 2017, at the age of 11, he joined the youth system of Lille OSC, marking the start of his professional football journey.
Leny Yoro’s journey through the Lille OSC academy was marked by rapid development and notable achievements. After joining the academy in 2017 at the age of 11, he quickly progressed through the youth ranks, showcasing his defensive prowess and technical skills. His exceptional talent led to his professional debut for Lille’s first team in May 2022, making him the second-youngest player in the club’s history at that time.
During his time in the academy, Yoro was recognized for his maturity on the field, often displaying a level of composure and understanding of the game beyond his years. His performances caught the attention of scouts and coaches, leading to his inclusion in the senior squad. This progression highlights the effectiveness of Lille’s youth development system in nurturing young talents and preparing them for top-tier football.
Club Career
Yoro signed his first professional contract with Lille on January 10 2022 and made his professional debut on 14th May 2022 in a 3 – 1 win over Nice in the penultimate match of the 2022/2023 Ligue 1 season. Being just 16 years, six months old at the time, he rose to become the second youngest Lille payer first being Joel Depreater-Henry. He extended his contract with Lille until June 2025 in August.
He proceeded to become a permanent member of the professional squad for the 2022-23 Ligue 1 making a total of 13 appearances in Ligue 1 including 8 starts and had a total play time of more than 750 minutes.
Yoro became a full-time starter as a right-back in his second season playing a total of 32 matches and became the most used French Championship player with a total of 3690 minutes in all competitions at just 18 years old. The centre-back netted his first Ligue 1 goal for the club in September 2023 in a 2- 2 away draw against Rennes.
Research released in October 2023 indicates that, with 89% of defensive duels won, Leny Yoro is the second-most successful defender among all players participating in Europe this season, spanning all age categories. Yoro also won defensive ground duels, making him the top player under 23. He was the only defender in all of Europe’s leagues, along with Virgil van Dijk, to rank in the top 10% for both defensive and aerial duel success rates. Yoro was one of Ligue 1’s finest passers as of March 2024, with 1537 passes completed, ranking seventh in the league overall and 92.3% completion percentage.
Yoro was included in the Team of the Year and received a nomination for the 2023–24 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year after the season.
On 18 July 2024, Yoro became the most expensive player aged 18 or younger and one of the most expensive center-backs in history after signing for the premier league club Manchester United, a contract to last five years with the option for an additional year. The details of the transfer include an initial and base fee of €62 million (£52.2 million) and a maximum of €8 million (£6.7 million) add-ons depending on sporting conditions.
Yoro became a target for many elite teams, such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Liverpool, after making a name for himself at Lille and becoming an important member of their first squad. Though the La Liga powerhouses never met his asking price, it was believed that the center-back was holding out for a transfer to Madrid.
Madrid believed they could sign Yoro for free after his Lille contract expired in June 2025, thus they were unwilling to spend more than £50 million for him.
However, that choice proved expensive as Manchester United moved quickly to sign the 18-year-old. Yoro was originally acquired by the Red Devils for £52 million from Lille; but, add-ons made the deal ultimately worth about £59 million.
International Career
Born in France, Yoro is qualified to represent the French team and has represented the French youth team in the U17s up to the U23s.
His international career kickstarted at the age of 15 years 9 months when he made an appearance for France U17s and was subsequently called up for the U18s the following year making a total of five appearances. He was called up for the UEFA European Championship Qualifying Competition in 2023 making his debut for the U19s against Norway on 25 March and was called up to the U21 the same year.
Achievements
Net Worth
As of 2024, Leny Yoro’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.
This figure reflects his rapid ascent in professional football, including his transfer to Manchester United and endorsement deals.
Yoro’s contract with Manchester United reportedly includes a base salary of €9 million per year, nearly four times the €2.5 million offered by Real Madrid.
This substantial salary contributes significantly to his net worth.
Additionally, Yoro has secured endorsement deals with major sports brands, further augmenting his income.
Leny Yoro’s Style of Play
He is an outstanding central defender, with a height of 1.90m which makes him an imposing presence in either penalty area. Yoro had the fourth-best duel success rate (62.7%) among defenders who played at least 30 games in Ligue 1 in 2023–24. Only three other defenders in the division were dribbled past on fewer occasions than Yoro’s 14.
Leny Yoro’s Agent
Leny Yoro agent is Jorges Mendes. The Fench shares the same agent with football greats like Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Ruben Dias.
Social media handles
Instagram: @lenyyoro
Twitter: @leny_yoro
Frequently Asked Questions
Leny Yoro Salary
His deal calls for a gross annual income of about £5.9 million in addition to potential bonus payments of up to £1.7 million each season.
Leny Yoro with his brothers.Leny Yoro injury
Before finalizing a deal for the French wonderkid, Manchester United was aware of the defender’s metatarsal problem according to a top source.
However, Yoro’s tenure at Old Trafford has not gone well as he fractured a bone in his left foot during his second preseason game for Manchester United necessitating a three-month layoff.
Leny Yoro Education
Lenny was enrolled in Lille Academy together with his siblings and graduated with a degree in Management Sciences in high school.
Leny Yoro Brothers
Leny had other siblings Romeo, Eden, and Esteban Yoro who were the youngest in the family and who could easily pass as triplets without a closer look at their identical hairdos and faces. Although Lenny is much older he still bonds perfectly with them and a lot of fans are inquisitive to see their career path.
Leny Yoro Nationality
Born in Saint-Maurice, France Leny Yoro is of French descent.
How Tall Is Leny Yoro?
Leny Yoro is 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in), the French youngster makes good use of his height advantage in aerial duels.
Source: Footygazette.com
