Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has outlined his vision for the club's latest acquisition, teenage Brazilian winger Alysson, following a transfer deal worth approximately £10 million from Grêmio.
Emery Excited by Young Prospect's Potential
The Villa boss expressed his enthusiasm for the 19-year-old's arrival, highlighting the player's development in his homeland. Alysson has experienced just one full professional season, making 31 appearances in Grêmio's 38-league match campaign, where he scored one goal and registered two assists.
Emery described the new signing as a player with significant potential to be unlocked at Villa Park. "He is very young. He was developing in Brazil, really being fantastic as a young player," Emery stated. "We signed him thinking to exploit his potential as a player, as a winger."
Profile and Initial Adaptation Phase
The manager provided a detailed breakdown of Alysson's attributes and the immediate plan for his integration. The player is a left-footed winger who predominantly operates on the right flank.
"He has good dribbling and is usually playing on the right side offensively and defensively, physically doing good work," Emery explained. "He can defend and attack. He is intense."
Emery emphasised that the initial focus will be on careful adaptation. Given his youth and the step up to the Premier League, the player's first challenges will come in training sessions before he contends with the high demands of match action.
Villa's Broader Ambitions in the Transfer Market
This strategic signing aligns with Aston Villa's continued activity in the January transfer window as they aim to strengthen Emery's squad for a sustained top-four challenge.
The club's ambitions are clear: securing a return to the UEFA Champions League. At the halfway point of the Premier League season, Villa find themselves in a strong position, sitting third in the table and holding a nine-point cushion inside the top five.
Their European campaign also remains active, with Villa placed third in the Europa League league phase ahead of their final two fixtures against Fenerbahçe and RB Salzburg.
