Aston Villa have confirmed that they have reached an agreement to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s forward Leon Bailey.
The 23-year-old seriously impressed last season and registered 15 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. A tricky forward who is deadly in front of goal, he has been linked to a number of top European clubs in recent years.
Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement on the transfer of Leon Bailey, provided that the player completes a medical and completion of personal terms.
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 31, 2021
As 90 minutes reported earlier this week, Leicester City, Southampton, Everton and Wolves were all after Bailey this summer. However, it is Villa who get an agreement over the line, with the club confirming that an agreement has been reached via an official statement.
“Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement on the transfer of Leon Bailey, provided that the player completes a medical and completion of personal terms,” it said.
Without any late twists in the story, he will soon be Dean Smith’s third signing of the transfer window. Villa have already swooped in for former Norwich City talisman Emiliano Buendia and Ashley Young after his Inter contract expired.
They can do more business with the club being strongly linked to Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse. Villa recently placed a £ 25m bid for the midfielder recently which was quickly repulsed by the Saints.
At the same time, Bailey’s arrival will do little to dampen speculation about Captain Jack Grealish’s future. The English international is the subject of interest from Manchester City, who recently submitted a Premier League record bid for their services.
Bailey could be Grealish’s successor at Villa Park / THILO SCHMUELGEN / Getty Images
As 90 minutes reported on Saturday, both Villa and City expect the £ 100 million deal to be completed next week. An agreement has already been reached in principle with the parties who have just completed the details.
Although Bailey has mainly been used as a right-back in recent times, he is also very capable of working on the left – a role that Grealish played for most of last season.
