Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is reportedly suing his former club for £1 million, claiming medical negligence that he says has damaged his career.
The 27-year-old, now playing for Burnley, alleges that United mishandled a back injury he sustained while at Old Trafford, leaving him with chronic spinal issues that continue to affect his performance.
Tuanzebe, who graduated from United’s academy and made 37 senior appearances for the club, left in 2023 after his contract expired. Following a short spell at Ipswich Town, he signed with Burnley earlier this year.
According to Sky News, the case now lodged at the High Court in London centres on a stress fracture in Tuanzebe’s spine first detected in January 2020. His legal team argues that the club “failed to treat the injury promptly and appropriately,” resulting in long-term damage.
The lawsuit states that United neglected to properly investigate the injury, failed to provide adequate rest, and did not refer him to a specialist sports spinal surgeon. As a result, the initial stress fracture allegedly worsened into “bilateral grade four fractures,” leaving the defender in persistent pain.
Tuanzebe’s claim asserts that with proper medical intervention, he could have avoided the chronic injury and continued playing “without restriction or impediment.” Instead, he says the condition has limited his ability to perform at the highest level and reduced his earning potential.
Court documents reveal that Tuanzebe first joined Manchester United at the age of eight, spending 17 years at the club. He represented England at youth level before opting to play for DR Congo, his country of birth.
Neither Manchester United nor Tuanzebe’s representatives have publicly commented on the ongoing case.
