Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid to sign left-back Matteo Ruggeri, with the Premier League club moving ahead of late interest from Newcastle United and Liverpool.
According to Marca, Villa will pay a fixed €18 million fee, with a further €6 million in performance-related add-ons. The agreement follows talks between Atletico sporting director Mateu Alemany and the player's representatives earlier this week.
The transfer now hinges on Ruggeri agreeing personal terms, although the move is expected to be completed without significant issues.
Villa move quickly to replace Digne
Unai Emery identified the 24-year-old as his preferred replacement for Lucas Digne, who is set to join Paris Saint-Germain.
Securing a new left-back became one of Villa's priorities this summer, prompting the club to accelerate negotiations with Atletico. Their swift approach has allowed them to beat competition from several European clubs.
Roma and Juventus had both monitored Ruggeri's situation, while Newcastle United and Liverpool reportedly made late attempts to hijack the deal before Villa reached an agreement.
Transfer expected to be completed soon
Ruggeri has already been training away from Atletico Madrid's main squad as negotiations progressed.
The defender is also expected to miss Atletico's pre-season tour of South Korea, underlining how close the move to Villa Park is to being finalised.
With the clubs now in agreement, only the player's approval remains before Aston Villa can complete another important addition ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Key Points
- Aston Villa have agreed a deal with Atletico Madrid for Matteo Ruggeri.
- The transfer is worth €18m plus up to €6m in add-ons.
- Newcastle United and Liverpool were unable to hijack the move.
- Ruggeri is expected to replace Lucas Digne at Villa Park.
- The defender is not travelling on Atletico's pre-season tour.
What's next?
Ruggeri is expected to complete the final formalities of his move, including agreeing personal terms, before Aston Villa announce the signing. Once confirmed, the Italian full-back will join Unai Emery's squad as the club continues strengthening ahead of the 2026/27 season.
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