logo
Buendia pens Villa deal & joins Leverkusen on loan

Buendia pens Villa deal & joins Leverkusen on loan

BBC News29-01-2025

Emi Buendia has signed a contract extension with Aston Villa and will immediately join Bayer Leverkusen on loan until the end of the season.The 28-year-old midfielder moved to Villa from Norwich in 2021 for a club-record deal worth an initial £33m. He has made 97 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals, and made his international debut for Argentina in February 2022. Buendia missed the entire 2023-24 season when he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a training session. He made his return to the side as a substitute against Everton in September. Bayer Leverkusen are second in the German Bundesliga, eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Marcus Rashford 'grows close' to semi-pro padel star as pair spotted on holiday
Marcus Rashford 'grows close' to semi-pro padel star as pair spotted on holiday

Daily Mirror

time39 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Marcus Rashford 'grows close' to semi-pro padel star as pair spotted on holiday

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford will be on the hunt for a new club this summer after falling out with Ruben Amorim - but for now he is taking time off by taking a holiday in Saint Tropez Marcus Rashford has been spotted with semi-pro padel player Jaki Palm in Saint Tropez, with the pair reportedly "growing close" in France. Rashford is enjoying some time on holiday after his Premier League season was ended by a hamstring injury during his loan spell at Aston Villa. Rashford's immediate future is uncertain with Villa unlikely to sign him permanently despite having a £40million option to buy. ‌ The 27-year-old doesn't appear to have a future at United so long as Ruben Amorim is manager after falling out with the coach last season. ‌ The Portuguese boss said he would rather name his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on the bench rather than a player who "does not give the maximum" and Rashford will be looking for another new club this summer. For now Rashford is attempting to take some time off amid speculation over his next move and has been enjoying time in the French seaside town - where he has been spending time with Palm. The semi-pro padel player and social media personality is based in Dubai and reportedly met Rashford in the Middle East when he travelled for treatment on his hamstring in April - and the two are now said to be getting on well in France. A source told the Sun: "Marcus went to have rehab for a hamstring injury in Dubai and was introduced to Jaki. She then joined him with his mates and another woman in St Tropez for a holiday. It's all very casual but Jaki has told her friends she's grown close to him. "She's being very coy about it. But Marcus is playing the field like young men his age. He is just having fun in the Premier League off-season and he's had a rough time with his hamstring so to see him having a laugh is what the doctor ordered." ‌ Palm has more than 10,000 followers on her Instagram account and often shares clips of her playing padel, inviting fans to follow her journey in the sport. Rashford has previously been linked to former Love Island star Grace Jackson - after splitting up with childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi two years ago. The England international has been in the public eye since making his United debut in 2015. Rashford has gone on to play 426 times for his boyhood club and has also picked up 62 caps for England. Most recently, he has been linked with a move to Barcelona, but reports have claimed that the La Liga side aren't willing to sanction a £40m move for the winger and are only interested in a loan.

Liverpool given update on Florian Wirtz transfer by Germany sporting director
Liverpool given update on Florian Wirtz transfer by Germany sporting director

Metro

timean hour ago

  • Metro

Liverpool given update on Florian Wirtz transfer by Germany sporting director

Florian Wirtz wants to join Liverpool but his transfer from Bayer Leverkusen could take 'a while', according to Germany's sporting director Rudi Voller. Liverpool have been unable to reach an agreement with Leverkusen over a deal for the 22-year-old, who finished the season with 15 goals and 16 assists in all competitions. The Premier League champions have seen their £109 million offer rejected, with Leverkusen holding out for a deal in excess of £120m. Bayern Munich and Manchester City have both expressed a strong interest in signing Wirtz but Voller, who now works for Germany's Football Association (DFB), claims the midfielder is keen on a move to Arne Slot's side. 'It's no secret that he'd like to go to Liverpool. I know the clubs are negotiating with each other,' Voller, who has had two stints as Leverkusen's sporting director, told DAZN. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Voller added: 'It's often the case that it takes a while until an agreement is finally reached. 'Of course, in the end, you have the feeling it will go through. More Trending 'Florian Wirtz has proven that he is a very, very valuable player. Not only for Bayer Leverkusen but also for the national team. That's why he costs a few euros more.' Speaking to ZDF, former Arsenal and Germany defender Per Mertescker described Liverpool's push to sign Wirtz as a 'big deal'. 'Everyone on the island is keen on one of Germany's greatest talents,' Mertescker said. 'Liverpool are really gearing up again, and getting him is a big deal.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Marcus Rashford handed transfer boost as Liverpool respond to Barcelona approach for Luis Diaz MORE: West Ham reject Chelsea swap deal offer for Mohammed Kudus MORE: Chelsea ready to pay £50m and offer players in deal to sign Premier League star ahead of Arsenal

Football transfer rumours: Arsenal and Liverpool to battle for Sesko's signature?
Football transfer rumours: Arsenal and Liverpool to battle for Sesko's signature?

The Guardian

time2 hours ago

  • The Guardian

Football transfer rumours: Arsenal and Liverpool to battle for Sesko's signature?

With the distraction of actual football finally over, the football fans among us are finally able to focus on what this is all really about: whether James Trafford will leave Burnley for Newcastle. The 22-year-old burst on to the scene when leaving Manchester City as the third most-expensive British goalkeeper in history, despite never having played in the Championship, never mind the Premier League. Newcastle tried to buy him last summer, but in true football is the winner style, instead sold Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and took the Greek keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos in part exchange, thus helping satisfy PSR concerns. But now they're back with a vengeance! Meantime, Aston Villa – buzzing after Marcus Rashford's stunning return of four goals (two pens) in 17 games – are showing an interest in taking another Manchester United winger. After the roaring success of Jadon Sancho's loan to Chelsea – 41 appearances, five goals, £5m paid to swerve his permanent presence – they naturally fancy adding him to their squad. There is competition for his signature from Milan and Napoli, with Antonio Conte seeing him as the perfect player to ensure he remains furious at all times. Nevertheless Chelsea, will, of course, be busy splashing money, as they always do. The less-than-prolific Liam Delap is already in, the lure of hearing the famous Champions League anthem (from the bench) too much to resist, and now the club are seeking to sign Mike Maignan from Milan. But, unimpressed by the £25m asking price, they are set to return with a more realistic offer of £745m and a 498-year contract. Elsewhere, Everton, are hoping to attract a new centre-forward. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, out of contract at the end of the month, may leave, and there is interest in Thierno Barry – not as great a name as Romelu Lukaku, but one it would nevertheless be exciting to experience in scouse. Villarreal, though, are not keen to sell and, having qualified for the Champions League, do not need to. Across London, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta has experienced a revelation: teams are better if they have someone to score goals. As such, he is trying to sign Benjamin Sesko from Leipzig – though he might face competition from Liverpool, who will have a vacancy should Darwin Nuñez depart. Liverpool have not had any offers for Luis Díaz. But should one materialise – Barcelona and Al-Nassr are reportedly interested – they may seek to replace him with Anthony Gordon, whose luxuriant barnet evokes Terry McDermott, Phil Thompson, Kevin MacDonald and other Kop heartthrobs of days gone by. Talking of which, Harvey Elliot may also be on the move. He is rumoured to have rejected a move to Nottingham Forest as he does not think they suit his playing style and is said to favour a move to Serie A instead.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store