Villa complete second signing of the day with Taylor Harwood-Bellis | OneFootball

Aston Villa have completed the signing of defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton in a deal worth around £30m.

The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Villa Park, with the club paying an initial £25m plus a further £5m in potential add-ons.

Harwood-Bellis arrives as a direct replacement for Ezri Konsa, who left Villa to join Premier League champions Arsenal in a £55m deal. 

His move caps a hectic summer of change at Villa Park, with several important members of last season’s Europa League-winning squad departing. Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea for £117m, while Ollie Watkins moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal for £51m. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and left-back Lucas Digne have also left the club.

Villa have been equally busy bringing in reinforcements, with Harwood-Bellis joining Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi, Alejandro Garnacho, Zion Suzuki and Ibrahim Mbaye among the summer arrivals.

The Southampton defender becomes Villa’s 10th signing of the window and is expected to be their final addition of a busy transfer period for Unai Emery.