Aston Villa sporting director Damian Vidagany has confirmed that talks are ongoing with Bayern Munich over a potential move for João Palhinha.
The Portugal international spent last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, who ultimately decided against making his move permanent.
Palhinha has since returned to Bayern Munich, but the German champions have made it clear that the midfielder is not part of their plans. That has opened the door for Aston Villa to explore a deal this summer.
Last month, we reported that the Europa League winners were preparing an offer for the 31-year-old as they looked to strengthen their midfield.
Aston Villa official refuses to reveal more details
Aston Villa faced Bayern Munich in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Friday, with Palhinha coming off the bench during the second half.
Bild spoke to Damian Vidagany about Villa’s interest in the Portugal international, with his comments appearing in Saturday’s print edition. However, the Villa official refused to reveal any further details about the ongoing negotiations.
“We need a midfielder because Amadou Onana is out for the entire season – and João Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans,” he said.
“We are in talks, but there is currently no agreement. If something were to happen, it would always be based on the great respect we have for Bayern. We are friendly clubs, and our relationship with Max Eberl, Christoph Freund and all the other officials is excellent. Therefore, I cannot and do not wish to comment on any further details.”
Vidagany also believes Aston Villa’s project under Unai Emery could be an attractive proposition for the former Fulham midfielder.
“I believe Aston Villa would be a great club for the player. In the league, six or seven clubs have a bigger budget than us,” Vidagany explained.
“Nevertheless, we’ve qualified for international competitions every year for the past four years. That’s down to our project, our work as a team, and the tactical influence of Unai Emery, who in my eyes is one of the best coaches in the world.”
What is preventing Palhinha from joining Aston Villa?
The main obstacle appears to be the difference between the two clubs’ valuations, with the gap currently making an agreement difficult.
Bayern are looking to sell Palhinha permanently and reportedly want around €25 million, a figure considered too high for Aston Villa at this stage.
Palhinha’s 2026 league stats
| Stat | Palhinha |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 15 |
| Starts | 9 |
| Minutes per game | 46 |
| Total minutes | 686 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 2 |
The two clubs have so far been unable to reach an agreement, even over a loan deal with an option to buy.
Villa would also need to agree personal terms with Palhinha. The midfielder would reportedly require an offer that convinces him from a sporting, financial and personal perspective before committing to a move.
In short, Unai Emery’s side still have plenty of work to do if they are to bring the Portugal international to Villa Park this summer.
