Aston Villa are wasting no time reinforcing their midfield, with Wolves star João Gomes now closing in on a switch to Villa Park after the Brazilian left training and boarded a flight to complete the move.
The Deal Is Done in Principle
Fabrizio Romano confirmed the agreement with his trademark “here we go,” reporting that Villa have struck a deal worth up to €45 million — an initial €40 million fee plus €5 million in add-ons, working out to a package worth around £38 million. Wolves have accepted the terms and authorized Gomes to undergo his medical, with personal terms not expected to present any obstacle to getting the deal over the line.
He Left Training to Make It Happen
In a sign of just how quickly this move has come together, Gomes reportedly left Wolves’ pre-season training camp in Portugal and said his goodbyes to teammates before flying back to England to complete the switch. It’s the kind of decisive, no-messing transfer that gets fanbases genuinely excited.
Beating Atlético Madrid to the Punch
This deal represents a real coup for Unai Emery’s side. Gomes had been strongly linked with a move to Atlético Madrid earlier in the summer, with the La Liga giants expected to firm up their interest after his return to Wolves pre-season. Instead, Villa moved decisively and stole a march on their European rivals, while also fending off reported interest from Manchester United, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest along the way.
Filling Two Big Gaps at Once
The timing of this signing makes complete sense from Villa’s perspective. It arrives just days after Youri Tielemans completed a £35 million move in the opposite direction to Manchester United after United triggered his release clause, leaving an unexpected void in Villa’s midfield. Compounding that issue, Amadou Onana is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury while on international duty with Belgium at the World Cup.
Gomes’ arrival goes a long way toward addressing both problems, giving Emery a proven Premier League operator to plug straight into his engine room.
What Gomes Brings to Villa Park
The 25-year-old developed into one of Wolves’ most important players after joining from Flamengo in January 2023, racking up 130 appearances and building a reputation as a relentless presser and ball-winner who excels at recovering possession and covering ground in central areas. Villa fans got a firsthand look at his quality last season too — Gomes scored and was named Sky Sports’ player of the match as Wolves beat Villa 2-0 at Molineux.
He’s expected to slot in alongside either new signing Johan Manzambi or Boubacar Kamara as Villa continue reshaping their midfield for a season that includes Champions League football.
A Busy Window at Villa Park
Gomes’ arrival is just the latest piece of a rapidly evolving summer for Villa. The club is also closing in on a club-record deal for Freiburg’s Manzambi, while simultaneously navigating Juventus’ pursuit of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and continued interest from Fenerbahçe in striker Ollie Watkins. It’s shaping up to be one of the busiest and most eventful windows in recent Villa Park history.
What’s Next?
With Wolves having authorized the medical, all that remains is for Gomes to complete the formalities and put pen to paper. Villa fans, how big a signing is this for Emery’s midfield rebuild? Let us know your thoughts below.
