Leny Olivier Yoro is a French professional footballer born on November 13, 2005, in Saint-Maurice, France[1]. Of Ivorian descent through his father, Yoro spent his early years in Alfortville before moving to the Lille area with his family[1].

Yoro’s football journey began at the age of five when he started playing for Alfortville. After one season, he moved to Villeneuve-d’Ascq, where he continued to develop his skills. In 2017, at the age of 12, Yoro joined Lille’s youth academy, marking the beginning of his professional football career[1][3].

On January 10, 2022, Yoro signed his first professional contract with Lille[1]. He made his professional debut for the club on May 14, 2022, in a Ligue 1 match against Nice. At 16 years, 6 months, and 1 day old, Yoro became the second-youngest player ever to debut for Lille, behind only Joël Depraeter-Henry and surpassing Eden Hazard[1].

The 2022-23 season saw Yoro become a permanent member of Lille’s professional squad. He chose the number 15 jersey and made his first start on September 17, 2022, in a 2-1 home win against Toulouse. Throughout the season, Yoro made 13 Ligue 1 appearances, including 8 starts, totalling over 750 minutes of playing time[1].

Yoro’s breakthrough came in the 2023-24 season when he established himself as a key player for Lille. His performances earned him a nomination for the 2023-24 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award and a place in the Team of the Year[1]. Standing at 6’3″ (1.90m), Yoro’s physical presence, combined with his technical skills and reading of the game, made him one of the most sought-after young defenders in world football[3][5].

On July 18, 2024, Manchester United announced the signing of Yoro from Lille for a fee of €62 million (£52.2 million), making him the most expensive under-18 player and one of the most expensive centre-backs in history[1][2]. Yoro signed a contract with Manchester United until June 2029, with the option to extend for a further year[2][4].

Throughout his youth career, Yoro represented France at various levels, including under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21 teams[1]. His rapid rise in professional football and his performances for both Lille and the French youth teams have marked him as one of the most promising young defenders in the world, with many experts predicting a bright future for the talented centre-back[1][5].

Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leny_Yoro
[2] https://www.premierleague.com/news/4061767
[3] https://www.teamtalk.com/news/who-is-leny-yoro-towering-french-stalwart-radar-man-utd-liverpool-tottenham
[4] https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/young-defender-leny-yoro-incredibly-honoured-to-sign-for-manchester-united/219324
[5] https://www.thisisanfield.com/2024/05/who-is-leny-yoro-18-year-old-centre-back-linked-with-liverpool-fc/