Villa sign Wolves midfielder Gomes in £38m deal

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Aston Villa have signed Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth up to £38m. The move is structured as £34m up front plus £4m in possible add-ons, with the 25-year-old leaving Wolves’ Portugal training camp to complete a medical before finalising the transfer to Villa Park.

The signing comes during a major reshaping of Villa’s midfield. BBC Sport says Amadou Onana is expected to be out until next year after sustaining a serious knee injury while playing for Belgium at the World Cup. Villa have also sold Youri Tielemans to Manchester United for £35m, while Morgan Rogers is set to depart after Chelsea agreed a £117m deal. The club had already completed a record transfer worth more than £50m for Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi.

Gomes joined Wolves from Flamengo in 2023 and made 130 appearances, scoring seven goals. He played 41 times last season and was named Wolves’ Player of the Year despite the club finishing bottom of the Premier League. Wolves technical director Matt Jackson praised Gomes’ professionalism while saying the club had to make responsible financial decisions.

BBC Sport’s analysis frames the move as a practical response to Villa’s injury and transfer situation, noting Gomes’ Premier League experience and ball-winning qualities. The report highlights his high tackle, duel and recovery numbers last season, while also pointing to discipline as a concern after he conceded the most fouls in the league.