Unai Emery is working with Aston Villa to make further additions to his squad ahead of the September 1 deadline
Joel Ordonez
Joel Ordonez has been the subject of an approach from Aston Villa over a move
Aston Villa have approached Club Brugge over a deal for defender Joel Ordonez, it has been claimed. Villa are looking to bring in a replacement for Ezri Konsa, who completed his £55million move to Arsenal last week.
The Athletic report that Ordonez is highly admired within Villa's recruitment team and had been monitored previously, but uncertainty over whether the club were willing to commit the required finances for the 22‑year‑old meant a move was not pursued. Villa also prioritised strengthening other areas.
With the summer window now entering its final days, Villa have made fresh contact with the Belgian side. Ordonez is one of three centre‑back options under consideration following the club's rejected £18million bid for Southampton defender Taylor Harwood‑Bellis.
Harwood‑Bellis missed Southampton's 2‑1 win over Stoke City on Saturday amid growing uncertainty over his future, but Villa and Saints remain apart on valuation, with discussions ongoing.
Villa's initial interest in Ordonez was first reported last year after their Champions League meeting with Club Brugge, a game Unai Emery's side lost 1-0 during the 2024/25 season.
Villa remain open to new opportunities in the transfer market before the window closes on September 1, having already lost several key players this summer, including Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans while Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez could still depart in the coming days.
Villa have strengthened significantly, bringing in Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho, Zion Suzuki and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka so far this window.
A deal has also been agreed for Leon Goretzka on a free transfer.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder is now expected to undergo a medical ahead of signing his contract next week.
Emery has been searching for a new midfielder since Amadou Onana suffered an ACL injury during the World Cup earlier this summer.
Joao Palhinha was targeted by Villa on a loan deal, but the former Bayern Munich midfielder is instead set to join Benfica on a permanent transfer.
Villa will begin their Premier League campaign on Sunday (2pm) with a trip to the south coast to face Brighton & Hove Albion.