#バイエルン

28 Aug 2026

Aston Villa Complete Free Transfer of German Midfielder Leon Goretzka

Aston Villa have officially completed the signing of former Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka on a free transfer. The 31-year-old Germany international arrives at Villa Park after an eight-year stint with the Bavarian giants, adding much-needed pedigree to Unai Emery's squad following a highly turbulent summer transfer window. For Villa fans, the veteran’s arrival could not be timed better. Emery’s side are desperate for reinforcements following a disastrous 4-0 opening weekend defeat to Brighton. More importantly, Goretzka will immediately help plug the massive hole in midfield left by Amadou Onana, who is sidelined until next year after suffering a serious knee injury with Belgium at this summer's World Cup. It has been a window of painful high-profile exits for the Midlands club. Midfield lynchpin Youri Tielemans departed for Manchester United, Morgan Rogers sealed a mammoth £117m move to Chelsea, and Ezri Konsa joined Arsenal. With star striker Ollie Watkins also heavily linked to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, Goretzka brings a welcome dose of elite experience to a dressing room in transition. After his Bayern contract expired in July, the former Schalke prodigy was courted by AC Milan but ultimately chose the allure of English football. "I had a bit of a long vacation, and it was a process to find out what I really wanted," Goretzka revealed upon signing. "I had a good feeling from the first conversation with the coach. Aston Villa is a really big club." The German also expressed his excitement for the Premier League's relentless schedule, noting a distinct contrast to his time in Germany. "I'm really looking forward to playing in these kinds of big games every few days, and this is probably the biggest difference to the Bundesliga, where you have only several great games with big opponents." Goretzka brings a glittering CV to England, boasting seven Bundesliga titles, a Club World Cup, and the 2020 Champions League. However, Premier League observers will rightfully wonder which version of Goretzka is arriving in B6. Once hailed as a "once-in-a-century talent" and widely considered Europe's premier box-to-box midfielder, injuries and age have inevitably faded his once-dominant athleticism. Last season, under Bayern boss Vincent Kompany, he was largely reduced to a substitute role, a trend mirrored during the World Cup. Unai Emery will have to manage his new signing's minutes carefully. Goretzka faces immediate competition from Villa’s newly signed 20-year-old Swiss prodigy Johan Manzambi. While Goretzka offers unparalleled tactical understanding, aerial presence, and a proven goalscoring instinct—having netted 51 times for Bayern—Manzambi possesses the raw athletic prowess that the high-octane Premier League demands. With new Germany manager Jurgen Klopp undoubtedly watching closely, this move presents Goretzka with a vital opportunity to revitalise his international career. For Aston Villa, it is a low-risk, high-reward gamble on a seasoned winner who knows exactly what it takes to succeed at the absolute highest level.