Aston Villa signs Goumeh

London (AFP) – English football club Aston Villa has signed Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes from fellow English club Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were relegated to the second tier (Championship), in a deal valued at approximately 38 million pounds sterling.

The Europa League holders won the race for Gomes after Chelsea agreed to sign England national team midfielder Morgan Rogers from the team managed by Spanish coach Unai Emery.

Gomes, 25, who has earned 10 caps for Brazil, also held talks with Spanish club Atletico Madrid, but Aston Villa persuaded him to join them.

Gomes made 130 appearances for Wolverhampton since joining from Brazilian club Flamengo in 2023, but was unable to prevent the team’s relegation from the English Premier League last season.

His move to Villa Park is part of a major squad rebuild for the side that finished fourth in the English Premier League last season.

Rogers is set to join the Blues in a deal worth 117 million pounds sterling, making it the most expensive transfer for an English player ever.

Aston Villa previously sold Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans to Manchester United, while compatriot midfielder Amadou Onana will be sidelined until next year after suffering a serious knee injury during the 2026 World Cup.

Emery has also successfully signed Swiss winger Johan Djourou from German club Freiburg in a deal worth 50 million pounds sterling, making it the most expensive transfer in the history of the English club.