Aston Villa are making headlines with an impressive move for João Félix, following the sale of their record signing, Moussa Diaby, to Al-Ittihad for €60m (£50.5m).
Felix, who made a name for himself with a €126m move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid as a teenager in 2019, is being considered as Villa gear up for the Champions League. This would mark Villa’s return to Europe’s elite competition after their last appearance in 1982-83.
Having spent the majority of the past two seasons on loan from Atlético, Félix notably scored 10 goals in 44 appearances for Barcelona during the 2023-24 season. Chelsea also secured Félix on loan for the latter half of the 2022-23 season for a fee of €11m (£9.7m). Although the feasibility of the deal remains uncertain, Unai Emery is showing keen interest in the talented forward. Félix is currently under contract at Atlético until 2027.
The 24-year-old Portuguese forward presents an exciting prospect for Emery, who values players capable of playing across the front line, similar to January signing Morgan Rogers. While Villa holds admiration for Athletic winger Nico Williams, valued at €58m (£49m) with a release clause, it appears that Barcelona is prioritizing the acquisition of the Spain forward, who played a starring role in Euro 2024.
Additionally, it’s expected that Diaby will sign a five-year contract with Al-Ittihad, marking the end of his time with Villa. Furthermore, Villa is on the verge of announcing the £50m signing of Amadou Onana from Everton, following the successful completion of the Belgium midfielder’s medical.
Diaby’s impact saw a decline over the course of last season following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, ultimately making 54 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists, and participating in every Premier League game.
Jaden Philogene, an academy product, has returned to Villa after they triggered a buyback option as part of a £13m deal with Hull City, providing an added boost to their wing options. Despite already having depth in attack with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey established as regulars, Villa is intent on finding a suitable replacement for Diaby. Philogene notably stood out in the Championship last season, even scoring a remarkable rabona against Rotherham.
Villa has been considerably active in the transfer market, with notable arrivals such as Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Enzo Barrenechea, and Ross Barkley. Concomitantly, the club has seen the departure of Douglas Luiz, Omari Kellyman, Morgan Sanson, and Tim Iroegbunam, while Philippe Coutinho, who has two years left on his contract, has been loaned to Vasco da Gama for the season. Emery is also considering allowing Jhon Durán to leave, setting the asking price at around £40m for the Colombian striker, with West Ham expressing potential renewed interest following a rejected loan bid in January.
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