Aston Villa have completed the signing of forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of €23 million (£19 million), plus an additional €3 million (£2.5 million) in potential add-ons. While the club did not disclose the exact terms of Malen’s contract, the 25-year-old Netherlands international arrives at Villa Park with high expectations.
Malen, a former Arsenal youth player, had an impressive season with Dortmund, scoring 13 goals in the Bundesliga and playing a pivotal role in helping the team reach the Champions League final. He brings a wealth of experience to Villa, as the club is also aiming to make a deep run in European competition under manager Unai Emery.
The forward has been a regular feature for the Netherlands national team, netting nine goals in 41 senior appearances. He also represented his country at Euro 2024.
Malen joins an ambitious Villa side currently in eighth place in the Premier League, just four points behind the coveted Champions League spots. Fans see his arrival as a significant step as Villa looks to challenge for top honors both domestically and in Europe.
In a statement on Dortmund’s official website, Sebastian Kehl, the club’s sporting director, expressed gratitude for Malen’s contributions during his three and a half years with the team. “We would like to thank Donyell for his time with us,” said Kehl. “Even if not all sporting expectations were ultimately fulfilled, we look back on beautiful moments and important goals. We believe this is a good solution for everyone.”
Villa could potentially see Malen make his debut in their upcoming Premier League fixture against Everton on Wednesday, January 15 (19:30 GMT), though the club has yet to confirm this.
The signing also comes at a time when Jaden Philogene, another Villa forward, is nearing a move to Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Ahead of Villa’s match against Everton, manager Unai Emery discussed the transfer, saying: “Of course, it’s a change. A clear change. One player leaving, one player joining us.”
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