Overview
- Reports say Goretzka has reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa and the club has paperwork ready pending a medical and signatures.
- Villa pursued the 31-year-old to replace departed midfielder Youri Tielemans and to cover for Amadou Onana, who is out long-term with a knee injury.
- Goretzka spent eight seasons at Bayern Munich, made 312 club appearances with 51 goals, won seven league titles and the 2020 Champions League, and has 73 Germany caps.
- German media reported that substantial wage and signing-bonus demands slowed Goretzka’s free-agent market despite interest from Atlético Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter and Arsenal.
- If completed, the free transfer would give Unai Emery an experienced central midfielder immediately and could influence Villa’s remaining transfer decisions this window.