Midfielder Gomes close to £38m Villa move

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes is set to join Aston Villa in a deal valued at approximately £38 million. The Brazilian international has departed Wolves’ training camp in Portugal and is scheduled to undergo a medical examination on Thursday. The agreement comprises an initial £34 million fee plus up to £4 million in add‑ons. Villa’s pursuit of midfield depth follows the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United for £35 million and the long‑term absence of Amadou Onana, who sustained a serious knee injury while on Belgium duty at the World Cup and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. In related movement, Villa are also nearing the completion of a club‑record signing of Switzerland international Johan Manzambi from SC Freiburg for a fee in excess of £50 million. Although Atlético Madrid had shown interest in Gomes, they did not conclude a transfer. During his time at Wolves, Gomes made 41 appearances last season as the side finished bottom of the Premier League. Overall, he has played 130 matches for the club, netting seven goals, after arriving from Flamengo in 2023.