Villa close in on Atletico defender Ruggeri

August 12, 2026 No Comments

Villa close in on Atletico defender RuggeriImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ruggeri came through Atalanta’s academyByNick Mashiter in Salzburg

Football reporter

58 minutes ago

Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of Atletico Madrid defender Matteo Ruggeri.

A deal for the 24-year-old left-back is progressing and he is expected to move to Villa Park after just a season at Atletico.

He will replace Lucas Digne, who completed an £8.5m return to Paris St-Germain on Sunday and could face Villa in the Super Cup in Salzburg on Wednesday.

Manager Unai Emery is looking to lift his first Super Cup having lost his three previous finals.

Villa had been looking to revamp their left-back options this summer and were looking for more physicality in the position, having also been interested in AC Milan’s Pervis Estupinan, who played for Emery at Villarreal.

Ian Maatsen is due to start against PSG at the Red Bull Arena in Austria.

Ruggeri made 47 appearances for Atletico last season after joining from Atalanta last summer, signing a five-year deal, as they finished fourth in La Liga and lost the Copa del Rey final on penalties to Real Sociedad.

He won the Europa League with Atalanta in 2024 and was named in the competition’s team of the season.

Ruggeri played throughout the Italy age groups and earned a first senior call-up in March 2025 but is yet to play for the national side.