Monday 13 July turned into one of the busiest single days of Aston Villa’s summer, with the transfer window moving on four separate fronts inside a matter of hours. Villa closed in on a marquee midfield signing, agreed the sale of a fringe forward, and absorbed the news that two more first-team players could be gone before pre-season begins in earnest — all while a former loanee’s new manager offered an uncomfortable verdict on how last season played out at Villa Park.
It captures exactly where Unai Emery’s rebuild stands midway through July: a squad good enough that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain both want players from it, yet one still working the phones hard for reinforcements. Today’s Aston Villa news makes clear the business is far from finished.
In the space of a few hours on Monday, Villa agreed a fee understood to be worth slightly more than €60million for Johan Manzambi, learned that Lucas Digne could leave for under €10million, watched Youri Tielemans edge towards Old Trafford, and sold Lewis Dobbin to Southampton for £9million. Factor in Amadou Onana’s serious knee injury from last week and the question writes itself: is one marquee midfield arrival really enough to offset losing two experienced options from the same position in a single summer?
What’s The Latest On Aston Villa’s Manzambi Transfer?
Villa have reached a full agreement to sign Johan Manzambi after hijacking Newcastle United’s move for the Freiburg midfielder. According to Fabrizio Romano, Villa have agreed a fee slightly north of €60million, with personal terms on a long-term contract also settled with the 20-year-old’s representatives. Sky Sports reports Villa matched a £49million deal Newcastle had already agreed with Freiburg, with Champions League football under Emery said to be the deciding factor. David Ornstein first confirmed the hijack before Romano reported the full agreement on Monday morning.
The move follows an exchange spotted after Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final win over Switzerland, when footage showed Emi Martinez asking Manzambi directly whether he was “going to Villa” — days before the move became public. No transfer has been officially confirmed by either club as of Monday evening, with a medical still to follow.
Which Players Are Aston Villa Set To Lose This Summer?
Villa are facing the exit of two experienced midfield and defensive options. Lucas Digne is set to leave for Paris Saint-Germain after the French club reached a verbal agreement with the left-back and informed Villa they intend to trigger his release clause, reportedly worth under €10million, once France’s World Cup campaign ends. The 32-year-old made 182 appearances since joining from Everton in January 2022 and would return to the club he represented between 2013 and 2016.
Separately, Villa face losing Youri Tielemans to Manchester United, who have entered advanced talks over the Belgian’s £35million release clause, according to David Ornstein. The 29-year-old, under contract until June 2028, contributed two goals and seven assists in 35 appearances last season alongside Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana — a midfield already thinned by Onana’s ACL injury at the World Cup.
Who Are Villa Lining Up As Left-Back Cover?
With Digne’s exit looking increasingly likely, Villa now view Ian Maatsen as their long-term first-choice left-back, according to Jacob Tanswell, while opening talks to sign Pervis Estupiñán from AC Milan as competition and cover behind him. Maatsen joined from Chelsea in 2024 but had to compete with Digne’s consistency for a starting role; Estupiñán fell behind Davide Bartesaghi in Milan’s pecking order last season. No formal offer has yet been submitted for the Ecuador international.
What Happened With Lewis Dobbin’s Move To Southampton?
Villa have agreed to sell Lewis Dobbin to Southampton for £9million plus add-ons, with the 23-year-old due a medical ahead of a permanent move to the Championship club, per Jacob Tanswell. Dobbin joined Villa from Everton for around £10million in June 2024 but never made a competitive first-team appearance, spending last season on loan at Preston North End, where he scored 10 goals and added eight assists.
What Did Iraola Say About Harvey Elliott’s Villa Loan?
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola gave his first comments on Harvey Elliott since the midfielder’s underwhelming loan at Villa Park ended, confirming Elliott will get a proper chance during Liverpool’s pre-season, describing him as eager and determined to prove himself again. Villa signed Elliott on a season-long loan last September with an obligation to buy reportedly triggered by a 10th Premier League appearance, worth around £35million — a number Elliott never reached before returning to Anfield with his future still open.
| Player | Direction | Club | Reported Fee | Status (13 July) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johan Manzambi | In | Freiburg | €60m+ | Full agreement reached, medical pending |
| Lucas Digne | Out | Paris Saint-Germain | Under €10m (release clause) | Verbal agreement, expected after World Cup |
| Youri Tielemans | Out | Manchester United | £35m (release clause) | Advanced talks |
| Lewis Dobbin | Out | Southampton | £9m plus add-ons | Agreed, medical booked |
| Pervis Estupiñán | Target | AC Milan | Not yet reported | Talks opened, no formal offer |
| Harvey Elliott | Loan return | Liverpool (parent club) | — | Loan obligation-to-buy not triggered |
Aston Villa Facts — 13th July 2026
Have Aston Villa completed the Manzambi transfer? No. As of 13 July 2026, Villa have agreed personal terms and a fee understood to be north of €60million with Freiburg, according to Fabrizio Romano, but neither club has confirmed the deal and a medical is still to follow.
Is Lucas Digne leaving Aston Villa? He is expected to. PSG have told Villa they intend to trigger his release clause, reportedly under €10million, once France’s World Cup campaign finishes.
How much are Villa selling Lewis Dobbin for? £9million plus add-ons to Southampton, with a medical arranged ahead of the permanent move.
Could Youri Tielemans leave Villa this summer too? Manchester United are in advanced talks over his £35million release clause, per David Ornstein, though no transfer had been confirmed as of 13 July.
