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Full Name |
Youri Marion A. Tielemans |
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Date of Birth |
7 May 1997 |
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Age |
28 years old |
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Place of Birth |
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium |
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Nationality |
Belgian |
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Ethnicity |
Mixed (Flemish and Congolese) |
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Height |
1.77 m (5 ft 9 in) |
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Position |
Central Midfielder |
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Current Club |
Aston Villa |
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Shirt Number |
8 |
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National Team |
Belgium (Captain) |
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Wife |
Mendy Tielemans |
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Children |
Three daughters |
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Contract Expires |
30 June 2028 |
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Estimated Net Worth (2026) |
$65 million to $70 million |
Who Is Youri Tielemans?
Youri Marion A. Tielemans is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Aston Villa in the English Premier League. Born on 7 May 1997 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, a small municipality just outside Brussels, he is now 28 years old and wears the captain's armband for the Belgium national team.
He started his career at Anderlecht, moved to Monaco in 2017, then joined Leicester City in 2019 where he famously scored the winning goal in the 2021 FA Cup final. Since 2023 he has been at Aston Villa on a free transfer, and under manager Unai Emery he has evolved into one of the most complete midfielders in England. In the 2024-25 season, he won both the Aston Villa Supporters' Player of the Season and the Players' Player of the Season awards.
Youri Tielemans Net Worth in 2026
Icon Polls estimates that Youri Tielemans' net worth in 2026 sits between $65 million and $70 million. This figure comes from years of top-flight football, stable wages at multiple European clubs, bonuses tied to Belgium's national team performances, and endorsement deals with brands like Nike.
His Aston Villa contract is the biggest driver of that figure. Add personal investments, image rights, and a long run of consistent Premier League appearances, and the number becomes easy to understand. Unlike some footballers his age who have chased lucrative moves to the Middle East or Saudi Arabia, Tielemans has stayed in Europe's elite leagues, which keeps his market profile strong.
Youri Tielemans Salary at Aston Villa
Tielemans reportedly earns around £150,000 per week at Aston Villa, which works out to roughly £7.8 million per year before tax. He signed a five-year deal when he joined from Leicester City in the summer of 2023, and that contract runs until 30 June 2028.
For a player who arrived on a free transfer, many observers now view his wages as one of the best-value signings Villa have made in recent years. There have been discussions about him signing an extension, especially after his strong return from injury in early 2026.
Parents and Family Background
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Tielemans comes from a sports-loving, middle-class Belgian family. His father is of Flemish descent and worked as a teacher and judo instructor. His mother is of Congolese origin and also worked as a teacher and judo coach. In a house full of judo practitioners, young Youri was the odd one out because he only ever wanted to play football.
His parents enrolled him at the Anderlecht academy when he was just five years old. His mother, in particular, pushed education alongside sport, and she famously insisted that his first professional contract with Anderlecht included a clause protecting his school work. He has an older brother and sister, both of whom stayed closer to the family's judo roots.
Religion
Youri Tielemans has never publicly discussed his religious beliefs. He grew up in Belgium, a country with strong Catholic cultural roots, but he has kept his personal faith private. Icon Polls found no credible interviews or public statements where he identifies with any particular religion, so any claim beyond that would be guesswork.
Ethnicity
Tielemans is of mixed ethnic heritage. His father is Flemish Belgian and his mother is Congolese, which makes him both European and African by descent. This dual background is why he holds citizenship recognised in both Belgium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on some official football records, though he has only ever represented Belgium at international level.
In 2017 he won the Ebony Shoe Award, a prize given to the best player of African origin in the Belgian top flight, which reflects that heritage.
Wife and Family Life
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Youri Tielemans is married to Mendy Tielemans, his long-time partner. The couple keeps an unusually low profile for a footballer of his stature, rarely posting about each other and almost never attending high-profile celebrity events. They have three daughters together, and the family lived in the Leicestershire village of Quorn during his Leicester City years.
Those who follow him closely describe him as a family-first man who prefers quiet dinners and time with his kids over nightlife. That grounded lifestyle is often credited for his steady form on the pitch.
Transfer Values Over the Years
Tielemans' transfer history tells the story of a player who has consistently been a smart buy. Here is how his major moves have played out:
Anderlecht to Monaco in 2017 for a fee of around €25 million, which was a big move for a 20-year-old at the time.
Monaco to Leicester City, first on loan in January 2019, then permanently for a reported £33 million in the summer of that year.
Leicester City to Aston Villa in 2023 on a free transfer after his contract expired, which many analysts now call the bargain of that summer window.
His current market value in 2026, based on Icon Polls findings and public valuations, sits in the range of €30 to €40 million, depending on how clubs weigh his age, his injury history from the 2025-26 season, and the two years left on his Villa deal.
Style of Play and Why He Matters
Under Unai Emery at Aston Villa, Tielemans has been used mostly as a number 10 or deep-lying playmaker rather than the box-to-box role he had at Leicester. He is known for his calm passing, his long-range shooting, and an almost telepathic partnership with fellow Belgian Amadou Onana in Villa's midfield.
In November 2024 he set a Premier League record by completing 126 successful passes in a single match, a 3-2 win against Everton. That kind of performance is why pundits keep comparing his footballing intelligence to De Bruyne's.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How old is Youri Tielemans in 2026?
He is 28 years old. He was born on 7 May 1997 in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium.
2. What is Youri Tielemans' net worth in 2026?
Icon Polls estimates his net worth falls between $65 million and $70 million, built from club wages, bonuses, and endorsement deals.
3. How much does Youri Tielemans earn at Aston Villa?
He earns around £150,000 per week, which adds up to roughly £7.8 million per year.
4. When does Tielemans' Aston Villa contract end?
His current five-year deal, signed in 2023, runs until 30 June 2028.
5. Who is Youri Tielemans' wife?
He is married to Mendy Tielemans. The couple has been together for many years and prefers a quiet, private lifestyle.
6. How many children does Youri Tielemans have?
He has three daughters with his wife Mendy.
7. What is Youri Tielemans' ethnicity?
He is of mixed heritage. His father is Flemish Belgian and his mother is Congolese.
8. What religion is Youri Tielemans?
He has never publicly spoken about his religion, so it is not confirmed. He keeps his faith private.
9. Where was Youri Tielemans born?
He was born in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, a town in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium, close to Brussels.
10. What position does Youri Tielemans play?
He is a central midfielder. At Aston Villa under Emery he often plays as a number 10, while at Leicester he was used more as a box-to-box midfielder.
11. Is Youri Tielemans the captain of Belgium?
Yes, he captains the Belgium national team in 2026.
12. What is Youri Tielemans' shirt number at Aston Villa?
He wears the number 8 shirt.
13. How tall is Youri Tielemans?
He stands at 1.77 metres, or about 5 feet 9 inches.
14. Who are Youri Tielemans' parents?
His parents have kept their names out of the spotlight. What is known is that his father is Flemish Belgian and his mother is of Congolese descent, and both worked as teachers and judo instructors.
15. Did Youri Tielemans score in the FA Cup final?
Yes. He scored the only goal in the 2021 FA Cup final, giving Leicester City their first-ever FA Cup trophy.
16. What clubs has Youri Tielemans played for?
He has played for Anderlecht, Monaco, Leicester City, and Aston Villa. He signed his first professional contract at Anderlecht at age 16.
17. What is Youri Tielemans' market value in 2026?
Icon Polls places his current market value between €30 million and €40 million, factoring in his age, his injury record, and the two years left on his Villa contract.
18. Why is Youri Tielemans compared to Kevin De Bruyne?
Because of his passing range, game intelligence, and ability to control the tempo of a match from midfield. In November 2024 he set a Premier League record with 126 successful passes in a single game.
19. What awards has Youri Tielemans won?
Among others, he has won the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year in 2017, the Ebony Shoe Award in 2017, two Belgian Pro League titles with Anderlecht, the 2021 FA Cup with Leicester, and Aston Villa's Players' Player of the Season and Supporters' Player of the Season for the 2024-25 campaign.
20. Is Youri Tielemans leaving Aston Villa?
As of April 2026 there is no official news of a transfer. He has been in strong form since returning from injury, and reports suggest Villa are keen to discuss a contract extension.
21. Does Youri Tielemans speak English?
Yes. He is fluent in English, French, and Dutch. He began learning English even before his 2019 move to Leicester.
22. What is Youri Tielemans' agent?
He is represented by Claes Agency, a Belgian football agency.