Aston Villa open to £20m exit as Leeds make transfer interest known | OneFootball

Aston Villa Open to Buendia Exit as Leeds Show Interest

Villa willing to listen to Buendia offers

Aston Villa are prepared to sanction the departure of Emiliano Buendia this summer, with internal discussions suggesting an offer in the region of £20 million could be enough to secure the midfielder’s exit. Leeds United are currently considered front-runners in the race for the Argentine’s signature. According to Caught Offside.

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Buendia, who joined Villa from Norwich City in June 2021 for what was then a club-record fee, has seen his influence at Villa Park decline, particularly following a long-term ACL injury that ruled him out of the entire 2023–24 campaign. Despite flashes of creativity, his overall return stands at 10 goals and 9 assists in 99 appearances.

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The 28-year-old spent the latter half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, where he produced several encouraging performances, although he remains outside Unai Emery’s long-term vision for the squad.

Villa seeking value as market opens

While Villa would accept £20 million, there remains a clear desire to drive the asking price closer to £30 million, particularly if interest intensifies. Speaking to VillaNews, Martin Allen stated:

Buendia is considered a creative asset capable of making an impact in the Premier League, and Leeds, now returning to the top flight, are looking for players with proven pedigree. Allen added:

For Villa, the sale would also help ease FFP-related pressures and streamline Emery’s squad ahead of European commitments.

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Buendia’s arrival was greeted with real enthusiasm back in 2021, and at times he offered glimpses of the flair and unpredictability Villa have craved in midfield. But in truth, those moments never fully translated into consistency.

The ACL injury was a cruel blow, and while his loan spell in Germany helped him regain rhythm, it is understandable that Emery, now steering the club into European competition, would prefer to reshape the squad around players more aligned to his system.

If Villa can recoup close to £30 million, that would represent strong business given Buendia’s injury history and diminishing role. However, fans will hope any fee is reinvested wisely, preferably in attacking depth or wide options that can support Ollie Watkins and the club’s continental ambitions.

Should he move to Leeds, it could prove a smart gamble for them. For Villa, it is the end of a chapter that never quite hit the heights expected, but which now offers a chance to evolve.