Joao Gomes set to join Aston Villa for £35m, ending Man United's pursuit

Joao Gomes is set to complete a £35 million move to Aston Villa after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers’ training camp, ending Manchester United’s pursuit of the Brazilian midfielder.

Gomes was first linked with United in 2024 and re-emerged as a target this summer following reported complications with Ederson’s medical. He is expected to undergo a medical at Villa in the coming days before signing his contract, according to the Birmingham Mail.

The 23-year-old becomes the latest in a string of midfielders to be linked with United only to opt for another destination, joining Mateus Fernandes, Elliot Anderson, and Sandro Tonali on that list. Gomes had also attracted interest from Liverpool and Atletico Madrid before settling on Unai Emery’s side.

In an ironic twist, Gomes is expected to serve as a direct replacement for Youri Tielemans, who left Villa to join United for the exact same £35m fee. He will be Emery’s second midfield addition of the summer, following the £50m arrival of Andrey Santos, and will compete in the Champions League after Villa won the Europa League.

Gomes joined Wolves from Flamengo in the summer of 2023 on a five-and-a-half-year deal and made 130 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight goals and registering six assists.

The miss leaves United short in central midfield. With Casemiro gone and Manuel Ugarte sidelined by a serious injury sustained at the World Cup, manager Michael Carrick has just three central defensive midfielders available, including Kobbie Mainoo. It is understood United are still seeking at least one more central midfielder, as well as a left-winger and a striker.

Carrick’s squad faces a significantly more demanding schedule next season. United’s third-place finish secured Champions League qualification, meaning the club will compete on four fronts — a step up from the domestic-only campaign Carrick inherited when he took charge. United begin their pre-season on Saturday against Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland.