Aston Villa have completed the signing of Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City, beating Arsenal to his transfer.
As confirmed on the club’s official website, Aston Villa have reached an agreement with newly-promoted Premier League club Norwich City for the signing of Emiliano Buendia. The playmaker, who is currently away on international duty, is expected to complete a medical later this week before the deal is over the line, delivering suitors Arsenal a killer blow.
Buendia has been Norwich City’s best performer over the past three years or so. The Argentine played an integral role in the Canaries’ promotion to the Premier League during the 2018/19 campaign and shone brightly in his debut season in the top-flight in 2019/20.
While he was unable to help Daniel Farke’s men stave off relegation, Buendia once again drove their promotion bid in 2020/21, enjoying a stellar term as he led Norwich to the EFL Championship triumph. The 24-year-old finished the campaign with a stunning return of 15 goals and 17 assists in 39 league games, standing out as the best player in the second division.
Naturally, Buendia drew admiring glances from bigger clubs in the Premier League, with Arsenal being at the forefront of the interest in the Argentine. The Gunners’ keenness on signing him made a great deal of sense as well, considering that they had been plagued by creativity issues last season, with last summer’s major arrival, Willian, enduring a campaign to forget.
Aston Villa and Norwich City have reached an agreement for the transfer of Emiliano Buendía.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) June 7, 2021
With Martin Odegaard’s loan spell also coming to an end, the onus would have been on the young shoulders of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to carry the team again next term. So, bringing in someone like Buendia would have worked out a treat for Mikel Arteta & co. To that end, Arsenal had launched two bids for the 24-year-old as well.
However, they have now been beaten to the punch by Aston Villa, who, as per Goal.com, have agreed on a £35 million move with Norwich for the transfer of the talented Argentine.
“As Emiliano is currently in the Argentina national team’s biosecure bubble, preparing for a World Cup qualifying match with Colombia on Tuesday evening, he will undergo a medical and complete the transfer after the game,” the official statement from the club read. It will come as a huge coup for the Villans, who already have one of the best chance-creators in Jack Grealish in the midst.
As for Arsenal, having been beaten to the punch in the race for Buendia, they will now have to turn their attention elsewhere, with their being the possibility of rekindling the interest in Odegaard a strong possibility.
Arsenal why?