Aston Villa Finalise £18.2m Tammy Abraham Signing After Successful Medical
Aston Villa are poised to officially announce the landmark signing of striker Tammy Abraham today, following the successful completion of his medical tests. The former England international has finalised his contract, marking a permanent return to Villa Park seven years after his initial loan spell from Chelsea concluded.
Complex Negotiations Conclude with Cash Plus Player Deal
The transfer negotiations with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas proved intricate, requiring multiple stages before reaching agreement. Besiktas first needed to exercise their option to make Abraham's loan from AS Roma permanent, before being able to negotiate his sale to Premier League clubs.
The Turkish giants drove a hard bargain throughout discussions, initially pushing for a Villa player to be included in any deal while seeking a substantial profit margin on their investment. Ultimately, Villa secured the forward's signature through a structured agreement valued at €21 million (£18.2 million), which includes performance-related add-ons alongside the transfer of promising Turkish centre-half Yasin Ozcan to Besiktas.
Contrary to some initial speculation, the €21 million valuation represents the cash component of the transaction, with Ozcan's move constituting an additional element rather than being included within that financial figure.
Medical Completion Paves Way for Villa Return
Abraham arrived back in England during Friday afternoon, with Saturday dedicated to undergoing comprehensive medical assessments at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training complex. Having successfully passed all required tests, the striker now awaits only international clearance before being formally registered as an Aston Villa player.
This acquisition represents a significant achievement for manager Unai Emery, who has been actively seeking attacking reinforcements throughout the January transfer window. The Spanish tactician specifically wanted a forward capable of both competing with established striker Ollie Watkins and occasionally partnering him in Villa's attacking lineup.
Emery's pursuit of additional firepower follows the unsuccessful integration of Netherlands international Donyell Malen, who struggled to adapt to the manager's specific tactical requirements despite arriving with considerable pedigree.
Popular Return for Prolific Former Villa Star
Villa supporters will welcome Abraham's return with particular enthusiasm, given his immense popularity during his previous stint at the club. The 6ft 4in centre-forward enjoyed a spectacular 2018/19 campaign, netting 25 goals in just 37 Championship appearances during Villa's play-off winning season.
That remarkable goalscoring form saw Abraham finish as runner-up in the Championship Golden Boot race, narrowly behind Norwich City's Teemu Pukki despite his substantial contribution to Villa's promotion success.
Now aged 28, Abraham arrives at Villa Park in decent form, having registered 13 goals and three assists across 26 appearances in all competitions this season. The former Chelsea academy graduate, who earned 11 England caps earlier in his career, will be eager to make an immediate impact as Villa push to secure a top-four Premier League finish and reestablish themselves as regular Champions League contenders.
