Aston Villa considering shock swoop for £27.5m Golden Boy winner

Aston Villa are reportedly considering making a move for Atletico Madrid superstar Joao Felix this summer, challenging a host of interested European clubs.

The Portugal international, currently at the 2024 UEFA European Championships in Germany, is expected to leave Atletico during this window. Felix was signed from Benfica for a whopping €126 million (£106 million) in 2019, the same year he won the prestigious Golden Boy award.

Now 24 years of age, Felix is yet to reach the almighty potential expected of him - but he’s certainly not done badly. The attacker has scored 34 goals and made 18 assists in 131 games for Atletico, while a loan spell at Barcelona last term returned 10 goals and six assists in 44 appearances, most of which were off the bench.

Aston Villa keen on João Felix

Freelance journalist Duncan Castles, who has written for the likes of The Sunday Times and Daily Record, reports Villa are keen on signing Felix. Interest has been there in the past and that’s expected to be revived as there’s a good regard between Unai Emery and the player.

Benfica have already made a bid, however, aiming to reunite with their former wonderkid. An offer of €32.5 million (£27.5 million) has been put on the table for 50 per cent of Felix’s future transfer rights. Barcelona want to sign the Portuguese permanently but cannot afford to match that bid.

Villa, if they decide to make an approach of their own, could offer Felix a second shot at Premier League football. The versatile forward joined Chelsea for the second half of the 2022/23 campaign but his loan was quite the failure as he scored just four goals in 18 appearances.