Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign Youri Tielemans, so United In Focus has compiled a list of players the Reds signed from Aston Villa, dating back as far as 1892.
There is no shortage of footballers who have represented both Manchester United and Aston Villa during their careers.
The latest player to make that a reality, despite not actually featuring in the list below as he was signed from Borussia Dortmund, is Jadon Sancho.
Without further ado, here are 10 players United signed from Aston Villa.
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James Warner
English goalkeeper James Warner, who later emigrated to Pittsburgh in the United States, signed for Newton Heath from Aston Villa in 1892 – becoming the first player to make the move.
Although Warner instantly became Newton Heath’s first-choice goalkeeper, making 20 consecutive appearances, he was suspended for a month after failing to show up for an away match against Stoke City.
Warner made three more appearances before being sold to Walsall Town Swifts.
Frank Brett
In 1921, Villa full-back Frank Brett moved to United, but his time at the club was short-lived.
Brett returned to Villa a year later but eventually moved on to Northampton Town, where he spent the rest of his playing career.
Stan Crowther
United made two emergency signings after the Munich air disaster in February 1958, including Stan Crowther.
The tall midfielder moved from Aston Villa to United for £18,000, while the other emergency signing was Ernie Taylor from Blackpool.
Crowther played against United a year earlier in the FA Cup final, with Sir Matt Busby’s side beaten 2-1 in the final
Sadly, Crowther never truly settled at United and was told after Wilf McGuinness returned to full fitness.
Chelsea completed a deal to sign Crowther for £10,000 in December 1958.
Colin Gibson
Ron Atkinson signed left-back Colin Gibson from Villa in 1985 for a fee reportedly worth £275,000.
Gibson arrived at United having won the First Division, European Cup, and European Super Cup after lifting the FA Youth Cup at Villa.
After spending five years at Old Trafford, Gibson was sold to Sir Alex Ferguson. He went to play for Leicester City, Blackpool and Walsall.
Les Sealey
Although Les Sealey initially joined United on a month-long loan from Luton Town in 1989, he was signed a year later before eventually being sold to Villa.
Sealey returned to United again two years later, following loan spells at Coventry City and Birmingham City.
Dwight Yorke
Arguably the most impactful transfer on this list, Dwight Yorke’s arrival in 1998 helped Ferguson complete the build of the team that won the treble a year later.
Yorke had already spent nine years at Villa, scoring 97 goals, but he left to test himself at the highest level and went on to win the European Cup.
It was a club-record transfer worth £12.6m.
Mark Bosnich
After starting his European journey at United academy in 1989, Mark Bosnich left due to visa issues – only to return a decade later to replace Peter Schmeichel.
Bosnich has just left Villa as a free agent before signing for United.
His time at the club was short-lived as Ferguson became critical of the goalkeeper’s fitness levels.
Bosnich, who became the first and only player to be signed permanently twice by Ferguson, went on to sign for Chelsea before finishing his career in Australia.
It certainly wasn’t a success story like Yorke.
Ashley Young
Ashley Young signed for United in 2011 after already making a name for himself at Watford and Villa.
With one year left on his contract at Villa, Young attracted interest from many clubs before choosing United over Liverpool to complete a £17m deal on a five-year deal.
Young transformed from a tricky winger to a reliable full-back during his time at Old Trafford, making 261 appearances, scoring 19 goals and registering 34 assists.
The former England international won the Premier League in 2012/13 and the FA Cup three years later.
Young also won the League Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho in 2017, proving his worth under managers after Ferguson retired.
Tom Heaton
Tom Heaton returned to United in 2021 in a move that saw the experienced goalkeeper return to the club he spent his youth years with, without ever making a senior appearance.
Following the expiry of Heaton’s contract at Villa in 2021, he returned to United on a free transfer and remains a member of the first team squad as we approach the 2026/27 campaign.
Heaton has made three senior appearances for United since his homecoming.
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Youri Tielemans
After attracting interest from United during his time at Anderlecht and Leicester City, Youri Tielemans has finally made the move as the best player in Unai Emery’s Villa squad.
United activated Tielemans’ £35m release clause, which meant there was no way Villa could prevent the deal from happening.
At the age of 29, the Belgium international arrives at Old Trafford with plenty of experience. The jury is out as to whether Tielemans will be a success in a United shirt.
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