Aston Villa Verdict

Sky Sports reports Villa are interested in Nicolas Jackson and have explored the conditions of a deal for the Chelsea striker, who has told the club he wants to consider his options and has been left out of their preferred attacking group. Chelsea's valuation sits near €70m — a stretch without sales — and the 25-year-old played under Unai Emery at Villarreal.

Villa announced Visit Rwanda as Principal Partner, with the tourism brand's logo on the front of all men's, women's and academy shirts from 2026-27 in a deal worth up to £20m per season — the most lucrative commercial partnership in club history if bonuses land, replacing Betano. Amnesty International criticised the agreement as 'sportswashing' on behalf of the Rwandan government.

Villa director of football operations Damian Vidagany publicly closed the door on an Emiliano Martínez exit, telling 365Scores the goalkeeper's future is settled, that he is staying, and that reports linking him with Juventus do not reflect the club's position. Juventus are understood to have agreed personal terms with the Argentine after their move for Alisson stalled, but Villa have no intention of sanctioning a sale.

Youri Tielemans has completed his medical and is signing for Manchester United on a five-year deal to June 2031, Fabrizio Romano confirmed, after United triggered the €41m (£35m) release clause in his Villa contract. The Belgium captain leaves having been a midfield mainstay under Emery; Villa had no wish to sell but were powerless once the clause was met.

Fabrizio Romano says Ferran Torres is on the radar of Villa and Spurs, and GiveMeSport reports Villa have explored a deal worth around £52m for the Barcelona and Spain forward. It looks a long shot: Torres is happy at Barcelona and reluctant to leave, while PSG have opened advanced talks over a reunion with Luis Enrique. His contract runs to June 2027.

Arsenal are readying an opening offer of around €85m (£72m) for Morgan Rogers after making significant progress in talks with the player's camp, and now believe they are his preferred destination. The bid would fall well short of Villa's £130m British-record valuation, which the club restated after the Tielemans sale. Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City continue to monitor.

Modou Kéba Cissé is now officially a Villa player, his July 2025 pre-contract agreement with LASK having taken effect this month. The 20-year-old Senegalese centre-back, who can also play defensive midfield, spent 2025-26 in Austria and links up with the squad for preseason after a deal worth a reported £4m.

With Youri Tielemans bound for Manchester United, TEAMtalk reports Villa have accelerated interest in Spurs midfielder Lucas Bergvall — who has told his club he wants to leave and is keen on Villa Park — and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton. No direct approach has been made for either, with Villa seeking a more defensive, controlled profile to balance the midfield.

Fabrizio Romano reported Villa are in talks with AC Milan over Pervis Estupiñán, saying the deal is on and the Ecuadorian is high on a three-man left-back shortlist to replace the departing Lucas Digne. Estupiñán played under Unai Emery at Villarreal, and BBC Sport's gossip column notes Villa are assessing the move.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed Johan Manzambi to Villa with a verbal agreement slightly in excess of €60m accepted by Freiburg, plus personal terms agreed with the player and his agency on a long-term deal. David Ornstein reported Villa hijacked the transfer. The 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder starred at the World Cup with three goals and two assists in four appearances.