How Aston Villa's XI could look in 2025 with four new signings; £50m La Liga star and striker both join
Villa have a host of transfer targets...
Of course, any discussion surrounding Aston Villa – and any future transfer market activity taken by the Premier League outfit – is not complete without mention of Financial Fair Play.
Alongside, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Everton and Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa were one of those clubs embroiled in a quite remarkable exchange of players before the FFP deadline at the end of June this summer.
Lewis Dobbin to Villa, Tim Iroegbunam to Everton in exchange, for instance.
The sales of Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz to Al-Ittihad and Juventus respectively did free up funds for Villa to bring in the likes of Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen, however, and further exits may be required to facilitate more big-money arrivals heading into 2025.
The likes of Alex Baena certainly won’t come cheap, after all.
TBR can confirm that Aston Villa scouted the Villarreal playmaker during Spain’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Denmark back in November. And if Baena’s name feels familiar, then there is a very good reason for that.
A player Unai Emery knows well from his time in the Villarreal hotseat, and a former team-mate of Pau Torres at the Estadio de la Ceramica, Baena has been linked pretty regularly with a move to the Midlands in recent transfer windows.
The £50 million release clause in his Villarreal contract, however, means Villa would potentially need to stump up a bid to make Baena – one of the most creative footballers in Europe and a dead-ball specialist – their new joint-record signing.
Perhaps this is why the Champions League hopefuls appear to be scouring the market for more affordable alternatives for the attacking midfield role.
Aston Villa eye attacking midfielders with Alex Baena a leading target
Take Malik Tillman, for instance.
While not quite as established as Baena in the European game, Tillman is climbing the ranks very quickly indeed. He impressed on loan at Rangers back in 2022/23 but, thriving after joining PSV Eindhoven on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich, the sky appears to be the limit for the often-dazzling USA international.
Tillman has already matched his goals return of nine from last season.
That heroic brace in PSV’s stunning comeback win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, meanwhile, highlighted Tillman’s willingness and his ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and turn it around almost single-handedly.
Tillman – TBR understands Aston Villa and Tottenham are both keen – stunned the Shakhtar keeper with an inspired near-post free-kick before levelling in far more straightforward fashion; A thumping, top-corner strike from long range.
Romano Schmidt of Werder Bremen is another to keep an eye on for Villa fans. While the Bundesliga outfit are determined to keep their Austrian star past January, Schmid’s contract situation means he could be available for less than £10 million.
Far cheaper, then, than either Baena and Tillman.
Schmid, four goals and seven assists for Werder Bremen last season, is due to become a free-agent in 2026. Renowned for his intelligence in possession and his ferocious work rate without it, Schmid feels like a good, and affordable, fit for Emery’s system.
John McGinn hailed Joel Ordonez after Champions League meeting
Further back, defensive additions are expected too. Albeit, with Lucas Digne in fine form and Maatsen in reserve, Aston Villa are not expected to target Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso in the New Year. Instead, their focus may shift to another Serie A flyer, with Matty Cash’s position on the right far less secure than Digne’s on the left.
Michael Kayode’s agent admitted over the summer that Aston Villa are interested in Fiorentina’s Italy Under 21 international, along with Brentford.
A tactically astute and typically modern full-back – he can invert into the midfield as well as hold the width on the flank – Kayode’s lack of minutes under new Viola boss Vincenzo Italiano has raised the possibility of a £25 million departure.
Centre-halves are also under consideration. TBR have been told that Aston Villa like Club Brugge’s £25 million-rated Joel Ordonez.
Likened to Real Madrid ace Antonio Rudger due to his aggression, athleticism and booming cross-field passing, Ordonez shone as Club Brugge stunned Aston Villa in the Champions League recently. Captain John McGinn, for instance, could not have been more glowing in his praise.
“It was a tough game actually,” McGinn told the Scottish Sun. “They had a really good young right centre-back. I think he was from Ecuador. He was excellent, probably one of the best players in the park.”
Villa could potentially bring in Ordonez by removing Diego Carlos, and his hefty wages, off the club’s books.
Aston Villa’s interest in Semih Kilicsoy confirmed by Brad Friedel
Finally, there is Semih Kilicsoy.
A teenage centre-forward who, thanks to a former Aston Villa goalkeeper, it can be confirmed is most definitely on their wishlist. Brad Friedel knows Semih Kilicsoy well from his time as an advisor at Besiktas.
Friedel says Aston Villa were ‘really interested’ in Kilicsoy last summer. Interest that is believed to remain to this day. Besiktas’ president has since revealed that Aston Villa offered £12.5 million, while offering Alex Moreno and Diego Carlos in return.
FFP concerns prevented Villa from going all in on the Turkey international – Kilicsoy scored 11 Super Lig goals in 20 starts last term – and that is likely to be a big factor in whether their interest is renewed in 2025.
Kilicsoy, still only 19, would likely operate as a back-up to Ollie Watkins initially.
Villa may look to cash in on Jhon Duran – both he and his agent have fuelled speculation surrounding the Colombian’s future – with Kilicsoy another project for Dracula-lookalike Unai Emery to sink his fanged teeth into.
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