Jean-Philippe Mateta. (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace’s summer was lively, but not always for the reasons fans would have liked.
The Eagles welcomed some solid additions — Walter Benítez from PSV, Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse, and the headline arrival of Spain international Yeremy Pino from Villarreal. The winger’s flair and creativity promised a boost in attacking quality.
But while the incomings were encouraging, the outgoings stole the spotlight. Eberechi Eze departed for Arsenal in a blockbuster deal, while England defender Marc Guéhi came agonisingly close to sealing a late switch to Liverpool — a move still widely expected to materialise in January or next summer.
Now, in a further blow, another Palace star could be on his way out, and this time the spotlight is on a striker whose value has never been higher.
Mateta Open to Aston Villa Switch
According to TEAMtalk, Jean-Philippe Mateta has dismissed interest from Leeds United, but the idea of joining Aston Villa has caught his attention.
The French forward is coming off his most prolific Premier League season to date, netting 16 goals in the 2024/25 campaign. His form not only cemented him as a fan favourite at Selhurst Park but also earned praise from pundits, with Jamie Carragher describing him as “brilliant” after a run of standout performances.
Unai Emery’s Villa are said to be “very keen” on the 28-year-old, and talks with Palace intermediaries have reportedly already begun. Villa see Mateta, who is valued at around £26 million, as the ideal forward to provide competition, goals, and experience as they continue their push to become established contenders for European football.
For Mateta, the timing could be perfect. At 28, the striker knows this might be his last big chance to secure a move to a club competing at a higher level.
Still, Villa’s poor start to the 2025/26 season may give him pause for thought. They sit winless after three games, including a heavy 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park — a game in which Mateta himself scored. Palace, fresh off lifting both the FA Cup and Community Shield, might yet be the better long-term home.
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