Aston Villa has a verbal agreement to sign left-back Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid. Fabrizio Romano reports that the clubs have agreed on a deal, and the player has also agreed to personal terms. Aston Villa will reportedly pay around £21.36 million for the Italian defender.
Ruggeri, who is 1.87 meters tall, came up through Atalanta’s youth system. He made his senior debut in 2020 and was a key player in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League win in the 2023-24 season. His strong performances in that competition led to him being named to the official UEFA Team of the Season. He’s known for his physical strength, powerful crosses, speed, and versatility, being able to play as a full-back or a left wing-back. Ruggeri moved to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2025.
The final documents are currently being reviewed by legal teams. If everything is approved in the next few hours, Ruggeri is expected to arrive for his medical and to sign his contract later this week.
