Manchester United to be Sued Over Alleged Negligent Medical Advice by former player

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe has launched legal proceedings against the club, claiming negligent medical advice during a critical period of his career.

The 27-year-old, who recently signed with Burnley, filed the claim with the High Court last week. The case concerns treatment he received from July 2022 onward for an undisclosed injury and is believed to exceed £1 million in value.

Tuanzebe, a product of United’s academy since the age of eight, missed nearly 200 days of action during the 2022–23 season. He was subsequently loaned to Stoke City in January 2023, where he managed only five appearances. Following his departure from Manchester United in the summer of 2023, Tuanzebe joined Ipswich Town as a free agent before completing his move to Burnley earlier this month.

Once seen as a rising star and a leader at youth levels, Tuanzebe captained United at various stages of his development and made 37 senior appearances. His final outing for the club was the 2021 Europa League final, in which he scored in the penalty shootout against Villarreal. His career has included multiple loan spells, including three stints at Aston Villa and a brief time at Napoli in 2022. He has since switched international allegiance from England’s U21s to DR Congo.

Both Manchester United and Tuanzebe’s legal representatives at Simons Muirhead Burton have declined to comment on the lawsuit. The claim raises serious questions about medical governance and the duty of care provided by top-flight football clubs, with potential implications for how injuries are managed across the game.