Negotiation Status
Aston Villa will sign Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka. The 31-year-old demands a net annual salary of €7 million and a signing-bonus of about €10 million. Initial talks are already underway, according to Italian journalist Matteo Moretto, who also writes for the Spanish newspaper Marca. The Birmingham Mail reports that Villa hopes to make major progress in the talks over the current weekend.
Financial Demands
Goretzka has recently made negotiations with other clubs difficult due to his wage demands. He seeks a net annual salary of €7 million and a signing-bonus of roughly €10 million. At Bayern, he had earned €13 million gross last season. Aston Villa can presumably meet these demands, as the Premier League club qualified for the Champions League and thus has the financial capacity to fulfil the requests.
Bayern Experience
The 31-year-old ended his eight-year career at Bayern Munich with 15 titles, including the 2020 treble. His contract expired on 30 June. At the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Goretzka wanted to showcase himself again but failed to do so. Former German national coach Julian Nagelsmann had promised him a leadership role in the DFB team in March, but Goretzka only made three brief substitute appearances at the tournament. The resulting demotion upset the player.
Withdrawal by Other Clubs
Italian giants Juventus Turin and AC Milan withdrew from a transfer because they could hardly meet the 31-year-old’s financial demands after failing to qualify for the Champions League. Goretzka reportedly withdrew and was often in a bad mood, according to Sport Bild. He also showed frustration when he missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Paraguay in the round of 32.
Outlook
Aston Villa has the opportunity to acquire an experienced, international player who can compete on the world’s biggest stage. If the negotiations succeed, Goretzka could play in the Champions League for Villa and continue his career in the Premier League.
