Aston Villa have made contact about a shock move to sign Al-Nassr star Aymeric Laporte this summer, according to Spanish outlet AS.
The Villans are looking to bolster their squad after a disappointing 2024/25 season under Unai Emery in which they missed out on qualifying for the Champions League by finishing 6th in the Premier League, while they were also eliminated at the quarter-final stage by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Now the club are looking to strengthen to get back to the top of the European game, and the manager has identified a well-known face as a potential option to come into the back line.
Spaniard has one year left on his deal in Saudi
Aymeric Laporte celebrates for Al-Nassr
Villa switched up their defensive options during the 2024/25 season as they allowed Diego Carlos to leave for Fenerbahce, while they signed Chelsea's Axel Disasi on loan.
But the Frenchman has returned to Stamford Bridge following the conclusion of the season and the club are now looking at potential alternatives for his position, with former Manchester City man Laporte emerging as a target.
Laporte, 31, has spent the last two seasons in Saudi Arabia playing for Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, and is now entering the final 12 months of his contract in the Middle East.
Aymeric Laporte Saudi Pro League Stats 2024/25
Games
Minutes
Goals
Villa have seen that as an opportunity to bring him back to Europe and a league he knows well, although his £409,000-a-week wages could pose an issue to any potential deal. However, Laporte is open to a return to Europe, but it's unclear if he is willing to take a major pay cut to do so.
Currently Emery has Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings, who just signed a new contract, as his options at centre-back, but Laporte would add plenty of top-level experience having won five Premier League titles and a Champions League title among other trophies during his time in England previously. He was also part of the Spain squad that won Euro 2024 and the 2023 Nations League.
Villa are expected to be busy in the transfer window as they look to get back to where they want to be, so this is a deal to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months.
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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt - correct as of 17/06/2025.
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