Former Manchester United defender, Axel Tuanzebe, has filed a £1 million lawsuit against his former club, accusing them of negligence in handling a back injury that he claims has damaged his career.
According to Sky News, the 27-year-old Burnley player alleges that United failed to treat his spinal stress fractures “promptly and appropriately,” leading to long-term complications that continue to affect his performance.
Tuanzebe, who spent 17 years at Old Trafford after joining the academy at age eight, made 37 senior appearances before leaving in 2023. He is now seeking damages at the High Court in London, claiming that United’s medical team’s failure to refer him to a specialist caused his condition to worsen.
Court documents reportedly state that the club’s negligence led to “bilateral grade 4 fractures” and a chronic spinal injury that could have been avoided with proper rest and specialist care.
“It is the claimant’s case that the defendant negligently failed to properly investigate the claimant’s pars fractures, failed to rest the claimant, and failed to refer him to a specialist sports spinal surgeon,” the filing reads.
Tuanzebe insists he has suffered “significant pain and discomfort” since July 2022 and that the injury continues to limit his ability to play “without restriction or impediment.”
Despite his struggles, the Congolese international continues to play professionally, having joined Burnley after a brief spell with Ipswich Town.
If successful, Tuanzebe could receive compensation exceeding £1 million for what his lawyers describe as a “career-impacting medical negligence” by Manchester United.
