Igor Paixão to Aston Villa from Olympique de Marseille
Verdict Delivered
This rumor DIED. It was dropped from the board after going quiet, last rated 3%.
| Move | Olympique de Marseille → Villa |
| Outcome | Never happened |
| Rated at the end | 3% |
| Resolved | August 22nd |
Santi Aouna, whose Foot Mercato reporting set Marseille's EUR 50m asking price on August 1st, said on August 8th that Villa are not looking for a left winger. That is the same reporter on the same beat contradicting the pursuit, and Paixao plays predominantly from the left. L'Equipe had carried the enquiry on August 3rd: Villa asked after the 26-year-old Brazilian, no bid was submitted, and Marseille gave no indication he was available. Nothing corroborated the approach in the days that followed, and Frank McCourt's EUR 50m valuation had already stalled Leeds United, who had Paixao third on their own shortlist. Paixao joined from Feyenoord last August for a fee L'Equipe put at EUR 35m including bonuses, a Marseille club record, and is contracted to 2030. He scored six with five assists in 30 Ligue 1 appearances in his first season in France and added four goals in eight Champions League matches.
How the Story Moved
| Date | What changed | |
|---|---|---|
| August 3rd | Tracked | Rumor opened on the board at 26% (contact) — source: L'Équipe, via Read Aston Villa (James Chettle). Villa have made an enquiry about the Marseille winger, according to L'Équipe, relayed by Read Aston Villa on August 3rd. The report is that Villa have asked after the 26-year-old Brazilian; no bid has been submitted and there is no indication Marseille have decided to make him available. Paixão joined from Feyenoord last August for a fee L'Équipe put at €35m including bonuses, a Marseille club record, and is contracted to 2030. He scored six goals with five assists in 30 Ligue 1 appearances in his first season in France and added four goals in eight Champions League matches. He plays predominantly from the left. The enquiry is the second Villa have made for a left-sided attacker in a week, after the €30m offer for Palmeiras winger Allan was rejected on July 29th, and it lands with Leon Bailey's Hull move stalled and Villa short of senior width behind Alejandro Garnacho. Marseille's asking price is the obstacle: Santi Aouna reported on August 1st that Frank McCourt wants €50m before entertaining a departure, a figure that has also stalled Leeds United's interest, who have Paixão third on their own shortlist. No corroboration of the Villa enquiry beyond L'Équipe has surfaced in the hours since. |
| August 9th | Moved | Likelihood fell from 26% to 7% (cooling). Santi Aouna, whose Foot Mercato reporting set Marseille's EUR 50m asking price on August 1st, said on August 8th that Villa are not looking for a left winger. That is the same reporter on the same beat contradicting the pursuit, and Paixao plays predominantly from the left. L'Equipe had carried the enquiry on August 3rd: Villa asked after the 26-year-old Brazilian, no bid was submitted, and Marseille gave no indication he was available. Nothing corroborated the approach in the days that followed, and Frank McCourt's EUR 50m valuation had already stalled Leeds United, who had Paixao third on their own shortlist. Paixao joined from Feyenoord last August for a fee L'Equipe put at EUR 35m including bonuses, a Marseille club record, and is contracted to 2030. He scored six with five assists in 30 Ligue 1 appearances in his first season in France and added four goals in eight Champions League matches. |
| August 22nd | Verdict | Rumor died — dropped from the board at 7% |
Timeline since the rumor joined the board.