Villa’s £38m Statement! Joao Gomes Set to Solve Emery-Era Midfield Crisis

Joao Gomes is poised to join Aston Villa in a deal worth £38m, with the Brazil international leaving Wolves’ training camp in Portugal ahead of a medical on Thursday. The move answers Villa’s most urgent summer question: how to rebuild a midfield stripped bare by the sale of Youri Tielemans and a serious World Cup injury to Amadou Onana. And here’s the twist: Gomes’ only goal for Wolves last season came against Villa themselves.

The Deal: £34m Up Front, £4m in Add-Ons

The transfer is worth an initial £34m with a further £4m in add-ons, taking the total package to £38m. Gomes has already left Wolves’ pre-season training camp in Portugal and will undergo his medical on Thursday, according to BBC Sport.

For Wolves, it means losing one of their most combative midfielders to a direct Midlands rival. For Villa, it means signing the player who scored his only Wolves goal last season against them, and making sure he never does it again.

Why Villa’s Midfield Needed Emergency Surgery

Villa’s midfield has been hit twice this summer: Youri Tielemans was sold to Manchester United for £35m, and Amadou Onana is ruled out until next year after suffering a serious knee injury with Belgium at the World Cup. Two starters gone before the new Premier League season even begins.

Gomes is not the only incoming fix. Villa are also close to completing the signing of Switzerland international Johan Manzambi for a club-record fee, meaning the engine room could look completely different by August.

What Gomes Brings to the Premier League’s Midlands Rivalry

At 25, the Brazil international is a ball-winning midfielder known for his tackling volume, pressing intensity and box-to-box energy, exactly the profile needed to cover Onana’s defensive workload from day one.

The £38m fee also signals Villa’s intent: rather than downgrading after losing Tielemans and Onana, they are spending big to stay competitive at the top end of the Premier League and in Europe.

FAQ