Aston Villa have moved quickly to address their midfield crisis, signing former Bayern Munich stalwart Leon Goretzka on a free transfer. The 31-year-old Germany international arrives with eight years of Bundesliga experience and seven league titles under his belt, though his hefty wages previously scuppered potential moves elsewhere.
Villa desperately needed reinforcements after losing Amadou Onana until next year with a World Cup knee injury. The timing couldn’t be worse. Unai Emery’s side were thrashed 4-0 by Brighton in their season opener, and they’ve watched key players like Ezri Konsa depart to Arsenal for £51 million and Morgan Rogers leave for Chelsea in a stunning £117 million deal.
Goretzka, who made 312 appearances and scored 51 times for Bayern, represents a low-risk gamble for a club navigating the Premier League’s new squad cost ratio rules. His 73 caps for Germany suggest he’s still got plenty to offer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal face a late fitness test on their own summer signing Bruno Guimaraes ahead of Monday night’s trip to Villa Park. The £75 million midfielder missed the opening weekend with a groin issue. If he’s ruled out again, Mikel Arteta may stick with the unced lineup that dispatched newly promoted Coventry. Konsa, ironically, could make his Arsenal debut against his former club.
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