Former Man United Star Axel Tuanzebe Sues Club for £1m Over Injury Negligence

Former Manchester United defender, Axel Tuanzebe, has reportedly filed a £1 million lawsuit against the club, accusing it of medical negligence in handling a back injury he claims severely affected his career.

According to Sky News, the 27-year-old Burnley defender lodged his claim at the High Court in London, alleging that Manchester United failed to treat a spinal injury “promptly” and “appropriately,” resulting in long-term damage.

Tuanzebe, who first suffered stress fractures in his spine in January 2020, said the club’s alleged mismanagement left him with chronic pain and limited mobility, restricting his ability to perform at the highest level and impacting his potential earnings.

In the court filing, Tuanzebe stated:

“Appropriate treatment plans would, on the balance of probabilities, have resulted in the claimant avoiding the pain and discomfort set out below and would have resulted in him being able to play professional football at elite level without restriction or impediment.”

The lawsuit further accuses United of failing to properly investigate his condition, denying adequate rest, and not referring him to a specialist sports spinal surgeon, which allegedly led to “bilateral grade 4 fractures” and a “chronic spinal injury” by July 2022.

Tuanzebe joined Manchester United’s academy at age eight and made 37 senior appearances before leaving in 2023 after his contract expired. Following brief stints with Ipswich Town and Burnley, the Congolese international says the lingering injury continues to affect his performance.

As of press time, neither Manchester United nor Tuanzebe’s representatives have issued a public statement regarding the legal action.