Villa sign Goretzka - what went wrong at Bayern and what will he bring?

Aston Villa has secured the signing of Leon Goretzka, a former Bayern Munich midfielder, on a free transfer. The 31-year-old German international, who spent eight years at Bayern, expressed his excitement about joining the Premier League club after a brief period of reflection. Goretzka praised Villa's stature, stating that he aims to contribute and assist the team in achieving their goals.

Goretzka's tenure at Bayern spanned 312 appearances, during which he scored 51 goals and earned 73 caps for Germany. He won seven league titles and the Champions League in 2020 while at the Allianz Arena. The Germany star will bring his extensive experience and valuable contributions to Villa's midfield, particularly as they cope with the absence of Amadou Onana due to a knee injury sustained during the World Cup.

In contrast, Villa has lost several key players this summer, including Ezri Konsa to Arsenal for an initial £51m, Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for £117m, Youri Tielemans to Manchester United, and Lucas Digne to Paris St-Germain. With these departures, Goretzka's arrival could prove vital for the newly appointed manager, Ange Postecoglou.