DONE DEAL: Aston Villa have made a big move ahead of January, reaching a full verbal agreement with Atletico Madrid to sign their £65m-rated World Cup winner. All paperwork is reportedly completed and signed, with the star winger set to join Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park in January.

DONE DEAL: Aston Villa Seal Landmark Move for Atlético Madrid’s £65m Star Álex Baena

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND — Aston Villa have pulled off one of the biggest transfer coups ahead of the January window, reaching a full verbal agreement with Atlético Madrid to sign star winger Álex Baena. All contract paperwork and transfer documents are reportedly completed and signed, finalizing a high-profile move that will see the Spanish international link up with Unai Emery’s side on a five-year contract starting this January.

The deal, valued in the region of £65 million, brings an end to intense speculation surrounding the 25-year-old playmaker, who has established himself as one of Europe’s most creative and versatile attacking talents.

Emery Reunites with His Trusted Playmaker

The transfer marks a major reunion for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and Álex Baena, who previously worked together at Villarreal. It was under Emery’s guidance in Spain that Baena developed into a world-class broad-spectrum attacker, capable of operating effectively on the left wing or operating centrally as a dynamic number ten.

Emery’s relentless push to bring Baena to Villa Park was a decisive factor in beating off competition from rival European clubs. With Villa aggressively expanding their ambitions across domestic and European competitions, the addition of a proven game-changer gives the club substantial quality depth in their final third.

Baena’s impressive profile includes leading La Liga in assists during his breakthrough campaign at Villarreal before securing his move to Atlético Madrid. Known for his exceptional vision, deadly set-piece delivery, and sharp short-passing skill, the dynamic winger fits seamlessly into Emery’s fluid attacking system.

A Decorated World Cup Winner Heading to Villa Park

Aston Villa fans will be welcoming a player who has enjoyed extraordinary success on the international stage. Baena achieved international glory as an integral part of the Spain national team that lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup, crowning a historic international run that also includes a UEFA Euro 2024 crown and an Olympic Gold Medal from the 2024 Paris Games.

His big-game experience and proven pedigree under pressure bring invaluable elite-level championship mentality to Villa Park as the team pursues silverware and continuous top-four Premier League stability.

A Five-Year Commitment to Villa’s Project

By committing his future to Aston Villa on a five-year deal running through 2032, Baena underlines his belief in the long-term project underway in the West Midlands.

Sources close to the negotiations indicate that personal terms were agreed swiftly once the clubs reached consensus on the financial structure of the transfer fee. Villa’s executive board acted decisively to finalize all signed paperwork well ahead of the official opening of the January window, avoiding any late bidding wars.

Speaking internally about the impending arrival, Villa officials view the transaction as a massive statement of intent. Baena is scheduled to arrive in Birmingham at the start of January for his formal medical examination and presentation at Villa Park, where he will officially don the claret and blue shirt.