Leon Goretzka joins Aston Villa after leaving Bayern Munich
Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka has joined English Premier League side Aston Villa on a free transfer, having departed Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Goretzka's departure from Bayern was confirmed in January, and he was given a fond farewell on the final matchday of 2026/27 sat home to Cologne while lifting his seventh Bundesliga title since joining the club in 2018.
By linking up with 2025/26 UEFA Europa League champions Villa, the Germany international will line up alongside former Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi, who joined the club this summer.
Goretzka, who was part of the side that secured a historic sextuple of Bundesliga, DFB Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Supercup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2020, said: "I'm really happy to sign here, I'm really looking forward to seeing you all in the stadium. See you there!"
Goretzka, who made 327 Bundesliga appearances for Schalke and Bayern, follows in the footsteps of former Germany international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, who made his professional breakthrough in England, having joined Villa from Bayern as a youth player in 2000.
He will wear the No. 27 shirt at Villa, having previously worn the famous No. 8 at Bayern.
