Aston Villa had agreed a loan deal with an option to buy João Palhinha before eventually turning to Leon Goretzka, with new reporting revealing many inside Villa actually preferred the German midfielder.
Palhinha spent much of the summer on Villa’s midfield shortlist following Youri Tielemans’ departure to Manchester United and Amadou Onana’s long-term injury.
ReadAstonVilla initially reported that Villa were considering a move for João Palhinha after Tielemans left before their interest progressed towards a proposed loan with an option to buy.
The extent of that progress has now become clear.
Jacob Tanswell’s detailed account of Villa’s extraordinary transfer window for The Athletic reveals Bayern Munich wanted Palhinha to leave and Villa agreed to a loan with an option to buy.
However, there was a belief that the Portugal international preferred returning home.
Villa subsequently pivoted towards Goretzka.
Aston Villa went further for João Palhinha than previously known
The revelation adds important context to a transfer saga which stretched across much of the summer.
Villa’s pursuit had appeared complicated when Bayern initially resisted the type of loan arrangement they wanted.
Their position later softened, leading to our report that Aston Villa had been handed a fresh Palhinha transfer opportunity.
The Athletic now establishes that Villa eventually got as far as agreeing the structure they had been pursuing.
What they did not secure was Palhinha himself.
The midfielder ultimately returned to Portugal and joined Benfica permanently.
Benfica’s official announcement confirms Palhinha signed until 2030 after completing a €14million transfer from Bayern, with another €5m potentially due through add-ons.
Villa went in another direction before that transfer was completed.
Leon Goretzka emerged as Aston Villa’s preferred solution
Goretzka became available following the end of his Bayern contract.
Emery personally spoke with the 31-year-old and other interested clubs subsequently fell away.
The particularly striking detail is Villa’s internal view.
The Athletic reports that most Villa sources preferred Goretzka to Palhinha, highlighting his versatility, pedigree and ability to set standards within Emery’s rebuilt squad.
Villa quickly capitalised.
ReadAstonVilla reported when Leon Goretzka agreed his Aston Villa move following direct talks with Emery, with the former Bayern midfielder arriving without a transfer fee.
The decision also made financial sense during an exceptionally expensive summer.
Sky Sports’ completed transfer list records Goretzka as a free transfer, while Villa spent heavily elsewhere on players including Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi, João Gomes, Zion Suzuki and Ibrahim Mbaye.
That allowed Emery to add extensive Champions League and international experience without sacrificing another major transfer fee.
Aston Villa midfield plans changed dramatically
Villa had not initially planned to make midfield a major focus of their summer.
That changed quickly.
Tielemans left for Manchester United, while Onana suffered a serious injury which created another vacancy.
Villa moved for João Gomes, with The Athletic reporting that Emery drove that signing before another midfielder became necessary.
ReadAstonVilla covered Villa’s subsequent £38million João Gomes signing as the Brazilian became one of the first major pieces of the rebuilt midfield.
Palhinha could have joined him.
Instead, Villa ended the window with Goretzka.
There was even uncertainty over whether another existing midfielder could depart, with Sunderland making repeated approaches for Lamare Bogarde before he ultimately remained at Villa Park.
The result leaves Emery with a midfield containing Gomes, Goretzka, Boubacar Kamara, Bogarde and eventually Onana, alongside the versatile Johan Manzambi.
Goretzka is still building towards full fitness and was not included in the squad against Arsenal.
But Villa’s decision to sign him now looks less like a late opportunistic free transfer and more like a deliberate choice.
They had a route to Palhinha. Villa ultimately preferred what Goretzka could give them.
