Aston Villa transfer truth after £22m move broke down
Aston Villa Reportedly Monitoring Loïc Badé Again Ahead of Summer Transfer Window
Aston Villa have once again been linked with a potential move for Sevilla centre-back Loïc Badé, just months after the French defender declined an opportunity to join the Premier League side during the January transfer window.
Back in January, Badé reportedly turned down a switch to Villa Park due to concerns over his role within Unai Emery’s squad. At the time, the 24-year-old was reluctant to accept a move without assurances of regular first-team football and was also hesitant to leave Sevilla in the middle of the season. His desire to remain in La Liga and continue contributing to Sevilla’s campaign ultimately led him to reject Villa’s approach.
However, fresh reports emerging from Spain suggest that Badé may now be more open to considering offers ahead of the upcoming summer window. Sevilla, who endured a dismal domestic campaign in 2024–25, are under increasing financial pressure following a 17th-place finish in La Liga—just one point clear of relegation. As a result, the club may be forced to offload valuable assets, including Badé, to stabilize their finances and rebuild.
Despite the renewed speculation surrounding Badé’s availability, sources indicate that Aston Villa are not currently prioritizing a move for the Frenchman. The Midlands club appear to be exploring other defensive options after previously failing to convince Badé to make the switch five months ago.
That said, strengthening the backline remains a key focus for Villa this summer. The club is actively seeking reinforcements at both centre-back and right-back as they aim to build a squad capable of sustaining a competitive campaign across all competitions, including European football next season.
One defender who will not be part of Villa’s plans is Axel Disasi. The French international, who spent time at Villa Park on loan from Chelsea, has returned to his parent club but is expected to be moved on permanently, with Chelsea deeming him surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
On the right side of defence, Villa currently have Matty Cash and youngster Andres Garcia among their available options. However, the situation could change depending on the future of Kosta Nedeljkovic. The Serbian right-back, who was previously loaned out, could return to Aston Villa this summer depending on decisions made by his current club, RB Leipzig.
Leipzig hold a £12 million purchase option for Nedeljkovic, but they have reportedly postponed making a final call, leaving Villa in a position to potentially reintegrate the player into their squad should the deal not be activated.
With key decisions looming and the transfer window gathering pace, Villa’s recruitment strategy will be closely watched as they look to strengthen their defensive depth while navigating the complex dynamics of the summer market.