“Deadline Day Drama: Aston Villa’s Transfer Blitz and the Latest Twist in Geertruida’s Future”
Aston Villa is racing against the clock to finalize their summer transfer deals before the window closes at 11 pm tonight. The club’s football operations team, led by Monchi and Damian Vidagany, is working diligently to complete Unai Emery’s squad. So far, Villa has signed seven players, but a third player is expected to leave on loan today.
Lewis Dobbin was the first to join from Everton, but he was promptly loaned out to West Brom for the season. Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea were signed from Juventus in a combined £18.75m deal in June, but Barrenechea is now set to follow Iling-Junior by heading out on loan. Iling-Junior joined Bologna for the season, while Barrenechea is expected to go to Valencia.
Villa’s summer activity has also included the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42m, Omari Kellyman to Chelsea for £19m, and Tim Iroegbunam to Everton for up to £13m, which has helped the club comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Ross Barkley signed a permanent deal with Villa in early July, and Moussa Diaby was sold to Al-Ittihad for £50.5m. Jaden Philogene also returned to Villa after the club triggered a ‘matching option’ clause following an £18m bid from Ipswich Town for the winger.
Villa’s record signing, Amadou Onana, arrived last month on a five-year deal after Everton accepted a £50m offer. With a surplus of midfielders, Barrenechea’s playing opportunities are limited, prompting his loan move. Boubacar Kamara is expected to return to training next month after an ACL injury in February.
Leander Dendoncker has attracted interest from Anderlecht and Las Palmas, but his high wages have complicated a potential move. Villa remains hopeful that the Belgian international will depart on loan today.
Villa had been targeting Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida, who has one year left on his contract. However, it now appears that Geertruida is heading to RB Leipzig as a replacement for Mohamed Simakan, who is set to join Al-Nassr for around £35m.
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