Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sign Matteo Ruggeri from Atletico Madrid.
The clubs have struck a fee in the region of €20million (£17.1m; $23.1m) and the 24-year-old is expected to undergo a medical in the coming days.
Ruggeri was not part of Atletico’s travelling squad to the club’s pre-season in South Korea, and the Italian left-back is now expected to replace Lucas Digne, who has joined Paris Saint-Germain, in Villa’s squad.
Ruggeri made 47 appearances for Atletico last season, recording seven assists. He joined from Atalanta last summer, signing a five-year deal.
Netherlands international Ian Maatsen has struggled for minutes since joining in July 2024, but Villa have outlined their intentions to keep the 24-year-old this summer and view him as a long-term successor to Digne.
Milan defender Pervis Estupinan, formerly of Brighton & Hove Albion and who played under Unai Emery at Villarreal, had also been targeted by Villa this summer but a fee could not be agreed with the Italian club.
Villa have signed midfielders Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes from Freiburg and Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, while Alejandro Garnacho has arrived on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.
Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Digne are among the high-profile exits from Emery’s squad.
