CONFIRMED: Aston Villa’s first January signing

Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa have reached an agreement for the transfer of Donyell Malen, with the Netherlands star set to be the first addition to Unai Emery’s side during the January transfer window.

Malen, who spent time at Arsenal’s youth academy, is not an undisputed regular in Dortmund and is therefore allowed to leave.

The attacker already has an agreement over personal terms in place with Aston Villa.

Sky Sport Deutschland football transfer news specialist Florian Plettenberg writes that it is a permanent transfer, with Villa paying a transfer fee of €25 million euros. This could rise by €5m if certain bonuses are triggered, with €3m of these expected to be easy to achieve.

Fabrizio Romano also reports on the agreement and writes that the transfer fee is €23m plus €3m in bonuses.

Donyell Malen pushed for Villa deal

Malen moved to Dortmund in 2021 three from PSV, who received €30m for the 25-year-old winger. During his time with BVB, he mainly fluctuated between the bench and the starting line-up. This season, Malen played 957 minutes, divided over 21 matches. In those games, the right-footer was good for five goals and an assist.

He returns to England after seven years, having played in the youth academy of Arsenal before going to PSV.

Malen, who has won 41 caps for the Netherlands, had made it clear that a move to Aston Villa was a transfer that he wanted. However, the deal was blocked for a lengthy period as Unai Emery’s side had two bids rejected.

The Villans are in a disappointing eighth place in the league table, after reached the Champions League last season.

In tandem with an injury to the versatile John McGinn and the poor form of Leon Bailey, who has scored only once in 24 matches this season, this is a reason why they have been so eager to add to their attack during the January transfer window.