Aston Villa completes €25M deal for Matteo Ruggeri from Atletico Madrid

Aston Villa have wrapped up a deal to sign Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri from Atletico Madrid for a reported €25 million, with an additional €1.5 million in potential add-ons that could push the total package to €26.5 million. The 24-year-old is expected to travel to Birmingham for a medical before finalizing his move to the Premier League.

The transfer, described as a done deal with a verbal agreement reached around August 11-12, represents a significant investment in Villa’s defensive options. It also marks the end of a remarkably brief stint in La Liga for Ruggeri, who spent just one season at the Wanda Metropolitano.

From Bergamo to Madrid to Birmingham in two summers

Ruggeri came through Atalanta’s academy before making his name in Serie A, earning enough attention to secure a €17 million move to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2025.

His debut campaign in Spain was far from quiet. Ruggeri racked up 47 appearances across all competitions for Diego Simeone’s side. Yet one productive season was apparently enough for Atletico to cash in. The Spanish club stands to pocket at least €8 million more than it paid for Ruggeri just 12 months ago, turning a one-year rental into a profitable piece of business.

Why Villa needs a left-back

The Ruggeri signing appears to be a direct response to a specific gap in Aston Villa’s squad. Lucas Digne, who has been the club’s primary option at left-back, is reportedly being displaced or is set to depart, leaving Unai Emery’s side thin in that position heading into the new season.

What this means for all parties

For Atletico Madrid, turning a €17 million outlay into at least €25 million in revenue after extracting 47 appearances from a player is textbook asset optimization. Some reports have suggested the base fee might actually be closer to €20 million, which would still represent a comfortable profit for the Spanish side.

For Aston Villa, the calculation is about filling a genuine positional need with a player who has proven he can handle the demands of elite European football. The fee itself sits in a reasonable range for a starting-caliber full-back moving to the Premier League, with the add-ons structure limiting the club’s upfront exposure while potentially rewarding Atletico if Ruggeri performs to his ceiling.

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