Tielemans began as a holding midfielder, but was moved by Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi to a more attacking role, where he scored long-range goals and was compared to Frank Lampard and Axel Witsel. A 2015 profile by Sky Sports noted his versatility as a defensive or attacking midfielder, concluding that his pace, passing and shot power suited the latter role better. Paul Van Himst, a former Anderlecht and Belgium player, noted at the same time that Tielemans had good skills with long passes. Primarily a box-to-box midfielder at Leicester, Tielemans has played frequently as a number 10 under Unai Emery at Aston Villa, frequently making progressive passes and recovering the ball for his team. During the 2024–25 season, Tielemans was highlighted as one of Aston Villa's best players and was praised for his footballing intelligence, accurate shooting, ball recoveries and passing, with his midfield performances being compared to that of his Belgian compatriot Kevin De Bruyne. In addition to his playmaking abilities, Tielemans has demonstrated proficiency in a deeper, defensive screening role. Regarded as an anchoring midfielder, he is noted for his press resistance and ability to dictate play from deep. During the 2025–26 season, a tactical analysis by The Athletic highlighted his exceptional passing range; he led all Premier League midfield or attacking players in defensive lines broken per 100 passes (18.3) and ranked first among defensive and central midfield players for passes breaking two lines. Defensively, rather than relying on pace or agility, Tielemans effectively utilizes his reading of the game to screen the defense and win tackles in transition, often acting as the catalyst for his team's attacking sequences. Tielemans has been widely praised for his professionalism and leadership qualities, particularly his ability to lead by example. During his breakthrough at Anderlecht, he was regarded as a future club captain due to his maturity and leadership skills despite his young age. In August 2025, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia appointed him as the permanent captain of the national team, stating that Tielemans enjoys the respect of both senior and younger players and serves as a unifying figure within the squad.

From English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA