Aston Villa’s summer rebuild is picking up pace, with a £38m agreement now in place to sign Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, fresh comments from departed captain Youri Tielemans, and Switzerland’s World Cup breakout star Johan Manzambi closing in on a medical at Villa Park. Here’s everything you need to know about Unai Emery’s business so far this window.
Villa Agree £38m Deal for Joao Gomes
Aston Villa have reached agreement with Wolves over a £38 million move for midfielder Joao Gomes, with the medical expected to take place on Friday or over the weekend. The signing is central to Villa’s plan to reshape their midfield following Youri Tielemans’ departure to Manchester United and a long-term injury to Amadou Onana.
Villa are also said to be weighing up a possible move for Joao Palhinha, who could be available on loan again from Bayern Munich given his high wages and two years remaining on his contract in Germany. Palhinha, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham, is reportedly still undecided on whether to stay in the Premier League or return to Portugal, with former club Sporting and rivals Benfica both said to be interested.
Tielemans Explains His Manchester United Move
Youri Tielemans has spoken publicly for the first time since completing his £36 million move to Manchester United, describing the switch as a genuine step forward in his career and pointing to United’s ambition as a major factor in his decision. The Belgian said he feels ready, at 29 and with plenty of experience behind him, to push his career on at a club he sees as sharing his winning mentality.
Tielemans leaves Villa Park after three years and 134 appearances, contributing 10 goals and 25 assists. He was part of the side that ended a 44-year wait for European silverware, scoring in the 3-0 Europa League final win over Freiburg in May. In its own farewell statement, Villa confirmed his tally and thanked him for his service, calling him a popular and “highly-respected” member of the squad who picked up both the Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Season awards in 2024/25.
Manzambi Set for Villa Medical
Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi has said his goodbyes at Freiburg ahead of completing a move to Villa Park, with a medical expected on Thursday before he signs a long-term deal. Villa moved late to beat Newcastle to his signature, with Manzambi’s preference for Villa Park reportedly influenced by the offer of Champions League football, and Villa matching Newcastle’s verbally agreed £49 million fee with Freiburg.
Manzambi has been one of the standout performers of the World Cup for Switzerland, who were eventually eliminated by Argentina in extra time in the quarter-finals.
Exits: Digne, Dobbin and Garcia All Depart
Lucas Digne looks set for a return to Paris Saint-Germain, with PSG expected to trigger an £8.5m (€10m) release clause once his World Cup duty with France is complete. Winger Lewis Dobbin has joined Southampton in a deal worth up to £10 million including add-ons, bringing an end to a Villa spell in which he never made a first-team appearance after joining in 2024 he scored 10 Championship goals while on loan at Preston last season. Full-back Andres Garcia, meanwhile, has moved to Getafe on loan for the coming season after struggling for minutes at Villa Park.
Villa’s rebuild has also been shaped by misfortune Amadou Onana ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on World Cup duty with Belgium, while Tielemans himself was forced out of Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final against Spain with a hamstring issue shortly before kick-off.
Other Villa Talking Points
Nineteen-year-old forward Ben Broggio is attracting loan interest from Club Brugge and Bolton, with Villa keen for him to get more first-team minutes after a productive loan spell at Falkirk. Elsewhere, Juventus have made initial contact over goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, though Villa are understood to value the World Cup-winning shot-stopper far above what the Italian club have been willing to discuss so far. Martinez remains under contract at Villa Park until 2029.
Quick Facts: Villa’s Summer Business
- In: Joao Gomes (£38m, Wolves), Johan Manzambi (£49m, Freiburg medical pending)
- Out: Youri Tielemans (£36m, Man Utd), Lucas Digne (~£8.5m, PSG), Lewis Dobbin (£10m, Southampton), Andres Garcia (loan, Getafe)
- Injuries: Amadou Onana (ACL, long-term), Youri Tielemans (hamstring, pre-Villa exit)
- Ones to watch: Joao Palhinha (loan interest), Emiliano Martinez (Juventus interest), Ben Broggio (loan interest)
