--- title: "Aston Villa miss cut-price Moritz Nicolas chance as release clause expires" canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/17/aston-villa-moritz-nicolas-release-clause-expired-2026/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Andrea Locorotondo" section: "Aston Villa Transfer News" published: "2026-06-17T14:00:00Z" modified: "2026-09-22T11:32:54Z" --- # Aston Villa miss cut-price Moritz Nicolas chance as release clause expires **Aston Villa have missed the chance to sign Moritz Nicolas at a cut-price, after the Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper’s €12m release clause expired this week.** - Bild report Nicolas’ €12m release clause expired at the start of the week without activation - The German goalkeeper kept 13 Bundesliga clean sheets during the 2025-26 season - Nicolas is reportedly open to a Premier League move despite envisioning a long-term future at Gladbach - Gladbach would now demand a considerable fee, having signed Daniel Batz from Mainz as cover ## A missed opportunity as the clause expires Aston Villa’s pursuit of goalkeeping reinforcements has suffered a notable setback. According to [Bild](https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/borussia-moenchengladbach-diese-news-von-moritz-nicolas-freut-gladbach-6a302cbe6bb5c7fe2e1c82aa?t_ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.getfootballnewsgermany.com%2F), Moritz Nicolas’ €12m release clause at Borussia Mönchengladbach expired at the start of this week without any club activating it. Consequently, what would have represented an outstanding piece of value business: a 13-clean-sheet Bundesliga goalkeeper for just €12m is no longer available at that specific price. The timing is frustrating given how closely Villa have been linked with [Nicolas](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/01/aston-villa-moritz-nicolas-borussia-monchengladbach-transfer-2026/) throughout the summer \[LINK\]. His statistics during the 2025-26 campaign made him a genuinely attractive option, particularly as the club prepares for life beyond [Emi Martinez](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/12/aston-villa-transfer-news-emi-martinez-juventus-lowball-offer-2026/). Thirteen Bundesliga clean sheets reflects both individual quality and defensive reliability, precisely the kind of consistency a Champions League squad requires from its goalkeeping department. ## The door is not fully closed However, the expiry of the release clause does not entirely end Villa’s hopes. Crucially, Nicolas remains reportedly open to a Premier League move, despite the fact he envisions a long-term future at Borussia-Park as a potential leader for the club. That specific openness keeps a deal alive, albeit on considerably different financial terms than the cut-price clause would have allowed. Furthermore, Gladbach themselves are not ruling out a departure now that the clause has lapsed. Should a considerable offer arrive for their number one, the German club would be willing to listen. Therefore, the situation has shifted rather than ended, moving from a fixed, bargain price to a genuine negotiation in which Gladbach hold the stronger hand. That said, the financial calculus has changed significantly for [Aston Villa](https://https//readastonvilla.com). A goalkeeper available for €12m via a clause is a straightforward, low-risk acquisition. The same goalkeeper requiring a negotiated fee above that figure becomes a more considered decision, particularly given Villa’s ongoing [PSR constraints](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/10/aston-villa-uefa-financial-rules-scr-settlement-agreement-2026/). ## Why Gladbach can afford to sell Interestingly, Gladbach’s willingness to entertain offers stems partly from their own recruitment activity. The club have signed Daniel Batz from Mainz, providing them with a genuinely high-quality alternative between the posts. The statistics behind that signing are particularly striking. Only Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel registered a better save percentage across the Bundesliga last season: 72.4% to Batz’s 72.2%. Notably, Batz’s figure even bettered Nicolas’ own 71.8%. As a result, Gladbach are in the comfortable position of being able to sell Nicolas without significantly weakening their goalkeeping options. That specific dynamic a ready-made, high-performing replacement already secured gives the German club both the confidence to demand a substantial fee and the flexibility to sanction a sale if the right offer materialises. ## The wider goalkeeper picture Nicolas was always one of several names on Villa’s goalkeeper shortlist rather than the sole target. Manchester City’s James [Trafford](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/16/james-trafford-aston-villa-martinez-transfer-sky-2026/) remains a long-standing primary option, while Parma’s [Zion Suzuki](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/11/aston-villa-zion-suzuki-parma-martinez-replacement-2026/) has emerged as another strong candidate. Additionally, Real Sociedad’s experienced [Alex Remiro](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/15/emi-martinez-aston-villa-juventus-remiro-replacement-2026/) has more recently entered the conversation. Therefore, while missing the cut-price Nicolas chance is a genuine disappointment, Villa’s broader succession planning retains considerable depth and flexibility. ## *ReadAstonVilla Verdict* Missing a €12m bargain for a 13-clean-sheet goalkeeper stings, but this is far from a disaster. Nicolas remains open to a move, and Villa’s shortlist runs deep, especially while [the Martinez market twist](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/06/17/emi-martinez-juventus-vicario-aston-villa-transfer-2026/) keeps the picture moving. The lesson, perhaps, is to act decisively when value presents itself. Trafford, Suzuki and Remiro all remain viable. The goalkeeper search continues — and the right option is still out there.