Aston Villa will reportedly compete with Arsenal and Newcastle United to sign 24-year-old Spanish goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Football Insider, Joan Garcia is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are combing the market for a goalkeeper heading into the summer transfer window and have set their sights on the Espanyol stopper. They are confident that Unai Emery and Monchi’s connections will help them beat Arsenal and Newcastle United to the Olympic gold medalist.
Joan Garcia and a tremendous rise in stature
Joan Garcia has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga this season. The Spaniard enjoyed his breakthrough at the Catalan club last term and has gone from strength to strength since then. Meanwhile, he was part of the squad that won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While the 24-year-old kept only eight clean sheets and conceded 51 goals in 38 La Liga outings, he was a standout performer for Espanyol throughout the 2024/25 season. So, it is hardly surprising that several Premier League bigwigs, including Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United, are keen on signing Garcia from the Catalan club in the summer transfer window.
A man in demand
The Spanish goalkeeper has been on Arsenal’s radar for a long time, with the North London outfit attempting to secure his services last summer. While the deal did not see the light of day, the Gunners remain interested in Garcia, as Neto’s loan deal ends soon. So, the Espanyol stopper is a viable target for Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s interest in Joan Garcia is understandable. While Nick Pope has been exceptional for the Tyneside outfit, the veteran English goalkeeper has struggled with fitness issues in the last few seasons. So, the Espanyol shot-stopper is an option worth considering for Newcastle United.
As for Aston Villa, Emiliano Martinez faces an uncertain future at the West Midlands club, and he will likely depart from Villa Park in the summer transfer window. So, Garcia is a viable target for Aston Villa, with Unai Emery and Monchi optimistic about sealing the deal for the 24-year-old Spaniard due to their connections in Spain.
Aston Villa should have no qualms about triggering the release clause of £21 million to sign the Olympic gold medalist. So, it will be interesting to see if the Villans beat Arsenal and Newcastle United to the Spanish goalkeeper’s signature in the summer transfer window.