Villa’s Matteo Ruggeri Confirmation Is Coming This Week

Villa’s Matteo Ruggeri Announcement Close

With Matteo Ruggeri’s agent having posted pictures from a private jet en route to Birmingham a couple of days ago, it’s clear that the final medical and business has been completed on the deal, with Villa and Atlético Madrid reaching an agreement on the left-back in principle earlier this month.

The Athletic reported a fee “in the region of €20million (£17.1),” which represents Atlético turning a quick profit on a player they signed from Atalanta only a year ago for around €17m.

Ruggeri’s Competition

Ruggeri wasn’t the only name at the top of Villa’s list to replace Lucas Digne, who completed his return to Paris Saint-Germain last week. For much of the past few weeks, a move for AC Milan’s Pervis Estupiñán looked closer to being finalised, with personal terms reportedly agreed and only a small fee gap left to close. That deal stalled amid alleged reports of resistance from Milan’s boss, Ruben Amorim, and Villa’s attention shifted to Ruggeri instead.

Unai Emery will no doubt rotate his new addition with Ian Maatsen, as he was prone to do with Digne, with one of them earning pole position in a full-strength Villa XI, when it comes to crunch time in either the Champions League or Premier League.

Matteo Ruggeri Pedigree

Ruggeri arrives with a decent pedigree for his age. He was part of Atalanta’s Europa League-winning squad in 2024, making the competition’s Team of the Season, and made 47 appearances for Atlético last term with seven assists, despite having joined only 12 months ago. He has played through Italy’s youth ranks and earned his first senior call-up in March 2025, although is still awaiting a debut cap.

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Comfortable at left wing-back in a back three as well as at left-back in a back four, he offers Emery tactical flexibility and reads the game well, as opposed to having any great flatline speed.

Ruggeri’s announcement has potentially been held up due to Villa being away in Salzburg for the Super Cup, before they travelled directly to Mönchengladbach for their friendly match at the weekend. It all points to an official confirmation landing early this coming week. It should be the club’s first announcement in what could be a busy week, with a quick-moving deal for Zion Suzuki from Parma bubbling away in the background.

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