Aston Villa have confirm the loan signing of Paris Saint-Germain winger Marco Asensio, who has followed Manchester United's Marcus Rashford to the West Midlands.
The former Real Madrid man reinforces Unai Emery's squad ahead of a critical second half of the 2024-25 season, where the Lions will be competing in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Villa placed eighth in the 36-team league phase to earn a direct ticket to the last 16, and the arrival of Asensio sees the West Midlands side welcome a player with extensive continental nous.
Asensio won three Champions League titles during his time at Real Madrid, in addition to three La Liga titles and four Club World Cups, but he never achieved 'Galactico' status at the Bernabeu.
The 29-year-old ended his lengthy spell at Real Madrid in 2023 to sign for PSG on a free transfer, but he has failed to hit the heights expected of him, only contributing seven goals and 11 assists in 47 matches.
Asensio made a positive start to the 2024-25 season with two goals and four assists from his first nine Ligue 1 appearances of the campaign, but he has been an unused substitute in five of PSG's last six top-flight matches.
Do Aston Villa have an option to buy Asensio? When could he make his debut?
Aston Villa is delighted to announce the loan signing of three-time Champions League winner Marco Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain. pic.twitter.com/D1fALCklqf
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 3, 2025
Asensio's move to Aston Villa is understood to be a straight loan deal with no option or obligation to buy, meaning that he will return to the Parc des Princes at the end of the campaign.
Nevertheless, the Lions are expected to cover the entirety of Asensio's wage packet while he plies his trade in England, where he follows Rashford, Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia to Villa Park.
The PSG loanee could make his debut for Emery's side against Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday, before the Villans host Ipswich Town in the Premier League on February 15.
Emery's men could still try to move for a new centre-back before the 11pm cut-off point, but a move for Chelsea's Axel Disasi is currently at a standstill due to the Blues' reluctance to sell to a direct top-four rival.
Ben Knapton
