Aston Villa Overview

Aston Villa are on the verge of completing a massive defensive reinforcement after reaching a verbal agreement to sign centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Championship side Southampton. The England international will arrive to bolster Unai Emery's backline as the club urgently looks to replace the recently departed Ezri Konsa for the new campaign.

For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is once again proving to be busy, with some huge names making big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.

Emiliano Martinez has completed a surprise £7.5m switch to Chelsea, turning down advances from other European heavyweights amid Juventus links. The Argentine goalkeeper forced an exit from Aston Villa and immediately identified Stamford Bridge as his preferred destination, largely driven by the prospect of working under Blues boss Xabi Alonso.

Portugal international Rafael Leao has broken his silence on the decision to reject a lucrative move to the Premier League in favour of joining Turkish giants Galatasaray. The former AC Milan talisman arrived in Istanbul to a rapturous welcome, bringing an end to one of the most unpredictable transfer sagas of the summer window.