Aston Villa are making progress in negotiations to sign free agent Leon Goretzka this summer.
The Villans are looking to strengthen their midfield after losing Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and seeing Amadou Onana ruled out for much of the campaign with a serious knee injury, while they prepare for their return to the Champions League.
Joao Gomes has already arrived from Wolves, while Johan Manzambi has also joined and is capable of operating in midfield. However, Unai Emery is keen to add further experience to his squad, and Villa have now stepped up their efforts to bring in a Champions League winner as part of an ambitious move.
According to The Athletic, Villa are hopeful of reaching an agreement to sign Germany international Goretzka on a free transfer this summer.
Goretzka left Bayern Munich at the end of his contract after eight seasons with the Bundesliga giants, winning seven league titles, three German Cups, four German Super Cups and the UEFA Champions League during his 312 appearances for the club.
However, he fell down the pecking order under Vincent Kompany in recent seasons, and the 31-year-old is now searching for a new challenge. Villa have been exploring low-cost options and had previously held talks over a loan move for Joao Palhinha, although he has now agreed to join Benfica on a permanent basis.
That development has seen Villa intensify their efforts to sign Goretzka, with the 73-cap Germany international having held talks with Emery. A deal was initially considered unlikely, but there is now increasing confidence that an agreement can be reached.
There is currently no agreement between the two parties, and Goretzka would still need to undergo a medical before anything could be finalised. Nevertheless, Villa are pushing forward because they believe he can provide leadership, experience and quality to a squad that has already lost several important players during this transfer window.
Leon Goretzka Bundesliga Stats 2025/26
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 25 (6) |
| Minutes | 1,958 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Tackles per 90 | 0.9 |
| Pass Success | 91.4% |
‘Model’ Goretzka Could Be Huge for Villa
Goretzka has been a regular for both Bayern and Germany for several years, and although he is now 31, he has demonstrated that he still possesses the quality to make an impact at the highest level.
After Goretzka’s Bayern departure, club legend Lothar Matthaus praised him as a ‘model’ professional, something Villa could benefit from adding to their dressing room.
“Leon is a model player,” Matthaus said. “I would like to thank him because these eight years with him have been enjoyable. Leon has always been an example.”
Villa have already seen Tielemans, Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa leave the club, while there are also major question marks surrounding Emi Martinez and striker Ollie Watkins, who reportedly wants to leave amid interest from Al Hilal.
Bringing in Goretzka’s experience and winning mentality could help fill an important void within the squad, while Emery knows the German midfielder could prove to be a significant addition during such a crucial season.
