Aston Villa have submitted a €9million (£7.8m / $10.2m) offer for Flamengo right-back Emerson Royal, according to a report from ESPN Brazil cited by Sport Witness. The offer represents a figure Flamengo previously paid to acquire Emerson from AC Milan in 2025.
Villa are preparing for a busy summer transfer window following their qualification for the Champions League, and manager Unai Emery is reportedly seeking to add depth and competition to the right-back position. Matty Cash is currently the first-choice option for Villa, with Anders Garcia serving as backup, though the latter has been linked with a potential departure from the club.
Emerson Royal previously spent time in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, making 101 appearances for the North London club. However, his performances were often inconsistent during his time at Spurs. The Brazilian international has since returned to his homeland and re-established himself at Flamengo.
While the potential addition of Emerson would provide Emery with valuable squad depth, particularly if Garcia does leave, some observers question whether the player has sufficiently improved since his time in England. No other news outlets have corroborated ESPN Brazil’s report of a bid, so the claim should be treated with caution at this stage.
Villa’s transfer focus appears to be primarily on attacking reinforcements. The club is reportedly in contention to sign Fulham winger Harry Wilson on a free transfer and are considered favourites to secure the services of West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen. However, a significant challenge could arise from interest in playmaker Morgan Rogers, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City all expressing interest in the England international. Villa are reportedly seeking a fee exceeding the club-record £100million received for Jack Grealish in 2021 should they sell Rogers.
