Yoro did not need to pack a bag. The 20-year-old defender was in the France Under-21 training camp on Thursday when Zidane’s staff handed him a promotion to the senior squad, a day before Les Bleus open Zidane’s tenure away to Turkey.

The call-up follows a late withdrawal by Real Madrid centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, who pulled out with a minor right knee sprain sustained in training. Yoro fills the slot in the senior defensive group.

He becomes the seventh player to earn a maiden senior cap under Zidane, who took charge of France in July 2026 after Didier Deschamps’ departure. The others to receive a first call-up in this cycle are Guillaume Restes, Jean Butez, Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, Lucas Da Cunha and Estéban Lepaul.

Yoro had reported to Clairefontaine under Under-21 manager Gérald Baticle, whose group trains on the same site as the senior squad.

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From Lille to Old Trafford in one summer

Yoro joined Manchester United from Lille in July 2024 in a £52.2m deal that could rise to £58.9m with add-ons, signing a five-year contract with the option of a further year. United beat Real Madrid to his signature that summer. He was 18 at the time.

“Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour,” Yoro said on the day the transfer was announced.

Four matches in ten days to open the Zidane era

France travel to Turkey on Friday, 25 September for the Nations League opener, before heading to Brussels three days later. The Stade de France then hosts Italy on 2 October and Belgium on 5 October to close the international window.

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