UEFA Champions League
Aston Villa has started formal negotiations with Club Brugge to close the transfer of Joel Ordóñez, the Ecuadorian center-back and a new request from Unai Emery to strengthen their defense.
The board of the English team is intensifying contacts before the market closure set for September 1, although the Belgian Pro League club demands a minimum of 40 million pounds (47 million euros) to authorize the sale of the Ecuadorian international.
Club Brugge's Demands and Alternatives in Aston Villa's Agenda
The approach for Ordóñez comes after the failed attempt for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, a 24-year-old defender from Southampton. The Villans' board had their initial offer of 18 million pounds rejected, leading them to shift focus to the South American defender.
At 22 years old, the center-back has played 124 matches for Club Brugge since his arrival in 2022 from Independiente del Valle, also participating in the 2026 World Cup with the Ecuador national team. The sporting direction sees his arrival as a priority to fill the gap left by Ezri Konsa's sale to Arsenal last week.
Aston Villa Squad Restructuring After the League Opener
Unai Emery's team started the Premier League with a 4-0 defeat against Brighton on Sunday, August 23, highlighting the need for defensive reinforcements. The team has experienced significant departures this summer including Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Konsa.
In addition to these exits, there is uncertainty surrounding the future of 30-year-old forward Ollie Watkins, who is a top target for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The Aston Villa management is working against the clock to secure the defensive line while assessing the financial margin to support their offensive key players.
The Aston Villa executives will hold another virtual meeting with Club Brugge's board in the next 24 hours. In this meeting, the British club will consider presenting a formal proposal that comes closer to the 40 million pounds required for scheduling the defender's medical review before the weekend.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Aceleran por Joel Ordóñez
