Aston Villa Failed To Sign This €30 Million Player This Summer: A Setback For The Lions? | OneFootball

A report by Portuguese newspaper A Bola was carried by Sport Witness, and according to the same report, Aston Villa had tried to sign Sporting CP star Geny Catamo, but the deal did not materialise. Unai Emery has long been looking for a player who can add width and flexibility to his squad, and that is why the Birmingham side showed interest in Catamo.

According to reports, Aston Villa were going to offer around €20 million, while Sporting CP’s demand had reached €30 million. Not only this, later reports made it clear that the Portuguese club might have accepted €25 million and an additional bonus of €5 million, but that offer could not be formalised till the end.

Interestingly, the Lions were not alone, as Turkish club Fenerbahce also made an offer for Catamo, which was rejected by Sporting CP. The club has been clear that they want to keep the 24-year-old Mozambique winger for the time being and are now offering him a new contract that will see his salary increase, but his €60m release clause remains the same.

With all this saga, it’s natural to wonder if Catamo could have been at Villa Park today had Villa been a little more aggressive. However, there have been other reports after the transfer window, such as Chelsea Have Set Their Sights On Morgan Rogers, that have caught attention.

Setback for Aston Villa?

FARO, PORTUGAL – JULY 16: Geny Catamo of Sporting CP in action during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and Celtic at Estadio Algarve on July 16, 2025 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Aston Villa’s interest in Geny Catamo reflects the team’s future strategy. The player was considered a perfect fit for Unai Emery’s system, as he can play on both wings and also drop into the centre when needed. His pace and dribbling skills could have been an added strength for Villa, especially after the departure of Leon Bailey. The numbers also point to this, as Catamo registered seven goals and five assists for Sporting CP in the 2024/25 season.

However, on the other hand, paying a price of €30 million or even €60 million was not an easy decision. Proving oneself immediately in the Premier League is challenging for every player, and in Catamo’s case, it was not certain whether he would be able to make a permanent place in the starting XI or remain just a squad player.

In addition, his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations also meant that Villa would have to suffer his absence in the middle of the season. In this sense, the club’s stance cannot be called wrong. Still, fans believe that the arrival of an aggressive winger would have given more depth to the team.

Perhaps this is why people are now wondering how balanced the transfer window turned out to be for the Unai Emery-led club. Catamo’s case shows that sometimes plans remain incomplete, but expectations determine the direction of the season.