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Aston Villa are on the verge of securing a key addition to their midfield, with Joao Gomes reportedly scheduled to undergo a medical before finalising his move from West Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Brazilian midfielder has already left Wolves’ pre-season training camp in Portugal to complete the formalities of his transfer to Villa Park.

Villa close in on £38m signing

As reported by the BBC, Aston Villa have made a major breakthrough in their pursuit of Gomes, with the Wolves midfielder expected to complete his medical on Thursday. The total value of the deal is understood to be £38 million, comprising an initial payment of £34 million and a further £4 million in performance-related add-ons.

The 25-year-old Brazil international has been a standout performer for Wolves since his arrival in England, but the chance to continue in the Premier League with a Champions League-qualified side was an opportunity too good to resist. Gomes has now departed Wolves’ temporary base in Portugal to travel to Birmingham, where he will finalise the details of his move.

Emery aims to strengthen midfield options

Unai Emery has been eager to reinforce his midfield following a number of notable departures and long-term injuries. The recent £35 million sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United created a creative void in the centre of the pitch that needed to be filled urgently.

Villa’s midfield situation was further complicated by the injury to Amadou Onana. The former Everton star has been sidelined until next year after sustaining a severe knee injury while representing Belgium at the World Cup, prompting Villa’s management to accelerate their transfer activity during this window.

Villa outpace competition for Gomes

Aston Villa were not alone in their pursuit of Gomes, as Atletico Madrid had also shown keen interest in signing the midfielder. However, the Spanish side were unable to reach an agreement, allowing Villa to move ahead and finalise the deal for a player who has already proved his quality in English football.

Even though Wolves endured a difficult season that ended in relegation to the Championship, Gomes was one of the bright spots in their campaign. He made 41 appearances last season and has featured in 130 matches for Wolves since joining from Flamengo in 2023, contributing seven goals during his time at Molineux.

What lies ahead for Aston Villa?

The signing of Gomes is not expected to be Aston Villa’s final addition this summer. Reports suggest that the club are also close to completing the transfer of Swiss international Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, a deal estimated to exceed £50 million — potentially a club-record fee.

These new arrivals come as Aston Villa gear up for a demanding season, highlighted by their return to the UEFA Champions League. The Villans are also set to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final following their historic Europa League triumph last season, as they aim to build on their recent success and continue their upward momentum.