‘99% out' - Aston Villa's second January transfer on verge of completion as manager makes exit admission

Levante manager Julián Calero has confirmed that talented defender Andrés García is ‘99%’ out of the door at the Estadi Ciutat de València as he edges closer to a January move to Villa Park.

Over the weekend, it was confirmed by Birmingham World that Aston Villa had reached an agreement with Levante to sign Garcia in a €7m deal (£5.9m), which also includes a further €2.25m (£1.9m) in performance related add-ons as well as a 15% sell-on clause.

Sports Witness understands Aston Villa beat off competition from Portuguese champions Sporting CP to get the deal over the line and adds that Garcia has already arrived in the West Midlands to complete a medical with the Villa Park club.

Levante, who are battling to win promotion from the Segunda Division earned a 3-1 victory against Granada over the weekend and lined up without their mainstay full-back Garcia.

Speaking after the game, Calero explained: "I am happy for the group. I do not want pessimism to set in. Of course, if players leave in the market we will not like it. Andrés is 99% out. But we will regroup and move forward.”

Aston Villa have already added talented Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen to their ranks, but what can fans expect from Andrés García?

Why Aston Villa have made the move for Andrés García

Andres Garcia is a highly-rated defender that progressed into the senior team at Levante in 2022 when he was just 19 years old.

Garcia is renowned for his excellent speed, agility and dribbling qualities which allow him to thrive both as a right-back and as a right sided midfielder.

Over the course of his career, he has already racked up 50 appearances for Levante while recording four goals and six assists in the second-tier of Spanish football. Garcia missed large periods of last season through injury but impressed in his 24 appearances towards the end of the campaign as his team missed out on the play-offs.

However, this term, he has taken his game to new heights and his record of three goals and as many assists in 22 appearances make him one of the most productive defenders in the entire division.

Garcia arrives to provide competition for Matty Cash on the right side of Villa’s defence and provide further squad depth to give the team ample chance of thriving in multiple competitions.

Spanish outlet Elders Marque describes Garcia as a player with immense physical qualities: “He is a physical beast, a locomotive, poisonous in attack, back and forth and also growing in defensive tasks.”

The outlet adds: “Andres has innate qualities that at his age are a guarantee of success and that are unquestionable claim outside the borders of Oririols.”