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Donyell Malen Edging Closer to Aston Villa Move
Aston Villa have reportedly reached a personal agreement with Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen, but a final deal with the Bundesliga club has yet to be struck. The Dutch international, valued at €30m (£25m), has struggled to secure a starting spot under Nuri Sahin this season, coming off the bench in half of his 20 appearances across all competitions.
Despite limited game time, Malen remains one of Dortmund’s top scorers this season, proving his quality even in restricted minutes. However, the 25-year-old was placed on the club’s “strikelist” of players available for transfer in November, signaling Dortmund’s willingness to let him leave.
Premier League Interest in Malen
Before his rise at PSV Eindhoven, Malen spent time in Arsenal’s academy and has previously expressed an openness to returning to north London. Liverpool also showed interest in the forward, but Aston Villa appears to be leading the race for his signature.
Journalist Ben Jacobs reported that Unai Emery’s side has “verbally agreed terms” with Malen, but a resolution between the clubs is still pending. Malen remains under contract with Dortmund until 2026.
Villa’s Winter Transfer Window Plans
Aston Villa, who had an active summer transfer window, are expected to make further moves this January as they aim to strengthen their squad for a Champions League push. Alongside Malen, Villa is reportedly interested in Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush, both high-profile targets also on the radar of Manchester City and Liverpool.
However, Villa’s transfer activities will require balancing incomings with outgoings. Academy graduate Jaden Philogene, who rejoined the club in an £18m deal in July, has attracted interest from Everton and could be on the move to fund Malen’s transfer.
Emery’s Focus on Forward Options
Unai Emery remains determined to bolster Villa’s attacking lineup, especially after failing to adequately replace Moussa Diaby, who moved to Saudi Arabia six months ago. Malen’s potential arrival could provide the creative and scoring edge Villa needs to stay competitive in their chase for European football.
