Aston Villa have completed the signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes for a fee of approximately £35 million, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Brazilian international arrives at Villa Park as a direct replacement for Youri Tielemans, who recently departed for Manchester United after the activation of his £35 million release clause.
Unai Emery’s side moved swiftly to fill the void left by Tielemans’ departure, beating competition from Atletico Madrid to secure Gomes’ signature. According to Fabrizio Romano, a verbal agreement was reached at a €40 million fee, plus a further €5 million in potential add-ons. Wolves have accepted the £38 million package and have authorised Gomes to undergo a medical, which the Birmingham Mail reports is all but complete.
Gomes joined Wolves in August 2023 from Flamengo, quickly establishing himself as a key player in the midfield. He made 39 Premier League appearances for the club, demonstrating his combative style and passing range. While he didn’t register a prolific goalscoring record, his contributions were often vital in breaking up play and initiating attacks.
The transfer represents a significant investment for Aston Villa as they prepare for a campaign that includes Champions League football. Villa have already added Modou Keba Cissa to their ranks this summer, with the £4.5 million arrival from LASK, and are also reportedly close to securing Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi. However, the potential sale of Morgan Rogers to Arsenal for a club-record fee could prompt further recruitment.
Villa are also contending with a serious knee injury sustained by Amadou Onana, which may lead them to seek another physical ball-winner in midfield. Gomes’ arrival addresses an immediate need, but Emery may still look to bolster his options before the start of the season. The signing of Gomes is the latest indication of Villa’s ambition and their commitment to building a squad capable of competing at the highest level.
