Following the departure of Youri Tielemans, Aston Villa has found a replacement. Joao Gomes is joining Birmingham from relegated Wolverhampton for around 40 million euros.
Aston Villa has signed Joao Gomes from Premier League relegated side Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Europa League champions made the move in response to the departure of their star midfielder, Youri Tielemans, who recently transferred to Manchester United.
In Wolverhampton—located just 30 kilometers by car from Birmingham—the 25-year-old Brazilian still had a contract running through June 2030. According to consistent media reports, Aston Villa is said to have paid a fixed fee of around 40 million euros for him. An additional five million in bonus payments could be added to that. The team, which finished fifth last season, did not provide any details regarding the contract term.
On the island since 2023
The central midfielder moved to England from Flamengo in the winter of 2023 for just over 18 million euros and initially signed with the Wolves through 2028 before extending his contract early last year through 2030. For the club from the West of England, the Brazilian has made a total of 130 competitive appearances, scoring eight goals and providing six assists. Last season, he started 32 of the 35 games he played.
Joao Gomes’ strengths lie in defense. He averaged about 14 tackles per 90 minutes, which is the highest rate in England. However, the 1.76-meter-tall right-footed player struggles in the air. What also makes the Brazilian’s profile interesting are his qualities with the ball: Joao Gomes frequently attempts dribbles—64 percent of which were successful.
Villa Faced a Two-Pronged Need
Most recently, Atlético Madrid is also said to have shown interest in the defensive midfielder. For the Villans, who have also secured the services of Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi—beating out rival Newcastle United in the process—the 25-year-old is expected to compensate for Tielemans’ departure. In addition, Amadou Onana will be sidelined for an extended period due to a cruciate ligament tear he sustained in Belgium’s 4-1 World Cup round of 16 victory over the U.S. From the perspective of Villa coach Unai Emery, there was therefore a dual need for action in central midfield.
