Leon Goretzka has successfully completed his Aston Villa medical, leaving the club preparing to announce the former Bayern Munich midfielder as their latest summer signing.
Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg reports that the medical has been completed and an official announcement is expected shortly.
Goretzka is available on a free transfer following the expiry of his Bayern contract. Villa had already reached a verbal agreement with the 31-year-old after Unai Emery personally explained his plans for the midfielder.
Leon Goretzka medical clears final transfer obstacle
Completing the medical removes one of the final obstacles before Goretzka can sign his contract and be registered as an Aston Villa player.
The Germany international spent eight seasons in Munich. Bayern confirmed that he made 312 appearances for the club and won seven Bundesliga titles, the Champions League and several domestic trophies.
Villa have not yet officially announced the transfer or confirmed the length of Goretzka’s contract. However, the successful medical means the deal has moved considerably closer to completion.
It also represents meaningful progress from Tuesday morning, when Villa still needed to complete Goretzka’s medical and registration before determining whether he could face Arsenal.
Aston Villa could register Leon Goretzka for Arsenal
Villa are now working towards having Goretzka available when Arsenal visit Villa Park on Monday, 31 August.
The relevant paperwork and international clearance must still be completed. With Monday falling on a bank holiday, Friday appears to be the important registration date for the midfielder to become eligible.
His arrival has assumed greater importance because João Gomes is suspended for the Arsenal fixture, while Amadou Onana and Johan Manzambi remain unavailable.
Goretzka would offer experience, physical strength and another natural central-midfield option alongside Boubacar Kamara. However, Emery must also assess his match fitness before deciding whether to introduce him immediately.
The manager already faces three major selection decisions against Arsenal following Villa’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
An official announcement will complete the transfer. For now, the successful Leon Goretzka medical gives Villa a strong chance of having their new midfielder registered before Friday’s expected cutoff.
