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Aston Villa has completed the signing of Brazilian international central midfielder Joao Gomes from Midlands rivals Wolves. Gomes will cost an initial fee of around £34m, plus a potential £4m in add-ons.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 20, 2026
Impressed for Wolves in season 2025/26
Despite Wolves suffering relegation to the Championship last season, the 25-year-old impressed in the centre of midfield. In fact, the combative star won the Wolves Player of the Year award. He had also picked up the fans’ Player of the Year in the 2024/25 season.
Gomes is known for his tackling ability, and in his three years at Wolves, he made 380 tackles, which is 83 more than any other player in the Premier League. During that time, Gomes also recovered the ball more than any other player in the English top-flight.
He isn’t just a midfield destroyer, though, as he tends to cover lots of ground in searching for the ball, and is good with his distribution when he has the ball.
Gomes will welcome the switch, as he has gone from the prospect of playing in the Championship with Wolves to playing in the Champions League with Villa.
Villa rebuilding their midfield
Gomes is the latest part of the Villans’ rebuilding of their midfield. The Midlands outfit saw Manchester United activate the £35m clause in the contract of Belgian international midfielder Youri Tielemans.
Villa not only reacted by bringing in Gomes, but also by signing exciting young Swiss international Johan Manzambi. The 21-year-old, who was one of the breakout stars at the World Cup, arrived from Freiburg for a fee that could eventually reach £59.5m, including add-ons.
Manzambi is more of an attack-minded player than Tielemans, so will be expected to contribute to the team’s attacking output next season. He may well be considered a replacement for England international Morgan Rogers, who completed a £117m switch to Chelsea.
Tielemans contributed just two goals last season, both of which came in the Champions League. He failed to score a top-flight goal in the 2025/26 season.