João Palhinha is not currently expected to undergo a medical at Aston Villa, according to Sky Germany, despite earlier reports suggesting a swift move to the Premier League club. The Portuguese midfielder has been linked with a summer transfer away from Bayern Munich, with Aston Villa and Benfica emerging as the most concrete options at this stage.
Bayern Munich are actively seeking to sell Palhinha, with director of sport Max Eberl reportedly keen to offload the player. Palhinha is currently under contract with the German champions until 2028, but appears to be surplus to requirements as Bayern reshape their midfield. No agreement has yet been reached with any club interested in securing his services.
Palhinha joined Bayern Munich from Monaco last summer for a reported fee of €65 million, but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Thomas Tuchel. He made 25 appearances across all competitions for the Bavarian giants, starting in just 11 of those matches. His combative style and defensive capabilities made him a sought-after player, but he often found himself behind the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in the pecking order.
Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, are in the market for midfield reinforcements following a successful campaign that saw them qualify for the Europa Conference League. They have already strengthened their squad with the signing of Youri Tielemans, but Emery is believed to be keen to add further quality and depth to his midfield options. Benfica, meanwhile, are consistently competing at the top of Portuguese football and in European competitions, and Palhinha’s profile would seemingly fit their recruitment strategy.
The current plan, as reported by Sky Germany, is for Palhinha to return to Munich on Sunday to begin pre-season training with Bayern. However, the situation remains fluid, and a transfer could still materialise before the start of the new season. A sale would allow Bayern to recoup a significant portion of the fee they paid for the player just one year ago, while Palhinha would have the opportunity to secure more regular first-team football.
