Joao Gomes leaving Wolves for Villa in £38m deal

Joao Gomes is leaving Wolves and moving across the West Midlands to join Villa in a £38million deal.

The Brazilian midfielder has left the club’s training ground in Portugal and will fly back to the UK ahead of completing a move comfortably the biggest ever between the two neighbours.

Villa targeted Gomes after losing Amadou Onana to long-term injury, before Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United for £38m earlier this week.

Talks have also taken place with Bayern Munich over the possibility of signing Portugal international Joao Palhinha on loan.

Atletico Madrid had been heavily linked with Gomes, who was widely expected to depart Molineux following the club’s relegation from the Premier League, but a deal failed to materialise.

Talks between Villa and Wolves accelerated quickly in recent days. The 25-year-old is due to undergo a medical before completing the move.

Villa are also on course to complete the signing of Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi in a club-record deal before the end of the week. Right-back Andres Garcia has joined Getafe on a season-long loan.

Gomes joined Wolves from Flamengo in 2023 and went on to make 130 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals and setting up six more.

Manchester United had also been credited with an interest but it is Villa who have made the decisive move.