Villarreal have beaten out interest from a number of suitors to secure the signature of Manchester United defender Willy Kambwala. The 19-year-old defender turned down a renewal offer from the Red Devils to stay at the club and will be plying his trade in La Liga next season.
Kambwala has signed a five-year contract with the Yellow Submarine, after a handful of appearances this season for United, having arrived in his mid-teens from Sochaux for €4m in 2020. The deal has been wrapped up for €10m including variables, and represents Villarreal’s first investment in their defence this summer.
🟡✍🏻 Willy Kambwala signs his contract as Villarreal player today after medical completed yesterday.
Manchester United have already signed all documents for permanent move on €10m package fee, add-ons included. pic.twitter.com/Iwbd7lZzd8
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 15, 2024
The French-Congolese defender will likely be in competition to start under Marcelino Garcia Toral, as he tries to fix one of the leakiest defences in La Liga from last season. Another former Manchester United defender in Eric Bailly seems likely to stay, as he only arrived in January, and Raul Albiol has just extended his deal for a further year, but Villarreal will listen to offers for Aissa Mandi and Jorge Cuenca.