Aston Villa have undergone significant changes during the summer transfer window as Unai Emery reshapes his squad.
The club sanctioned the record-breaking £117 million sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea, while Youri Tielemans also completed a surprise switch to Manchester United, leaving Villa needing reinforcements in midfield and attack.
With PSR restrictions limiting their spending, Villa have instead looked to identify players capable of strengthening the squad without commanding astronomical fees.
Now, it appears they have agreed a deal for a highly-rated addition.
Villa Agree Fee for Matteo Ruggeri
According to Marca, Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid to sign left-back Matteo Ruggeri in a deal worth £24 million.
The package is understood to include £18 million upfront, with a further £6 million payable through performance-related bonuses. Only the player’s final approval is now required before the transfer can be completed.
Ruggeri, who has previously been described as “heroic” by La Gazzetta dello Sport, is not expected to travel with Atletico Madrid on their pre-season tour of South Korea, further indicating that his departure is close.
Villa view the 24-year-old as an ideal fit for Emery’s system, with the Italian offering versatility, defensive reliability and experience at the highest level despite still being in the early stages of his career.
If the final details are completed, Ruggeri will become another key addition as Villa continue rebuilding their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
