Unai Emery picks his striker: Aston Villa agree personal terms with €25m ace

Robin Bairner

• 29 Aug 2025 14:30 BST
• 3 min read

News

Aston Villa are close to completing their fourth signing of the summer, with Unai Emery’s squad set to be bolstered by the addition of a €25 million striker.

Unai Emery’s side have had a frustrating summer in the transfer market due to financial restrictions placed upon them by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Of the three signings the Birmingham side have made, two have come from Ligue 1, and striker Evann Guessand and goalkeeper Marco Bizot are set to be joined by a third arrival from France’s top flight.

Mikautadze ready to make Aston Villa move

According to Le Parisien journalist Marc Mechenoua, Aston Villa are ready to sign Georgia international forward Georges Mikautadze from Lyon.

He reports: “Aston Villa are making progress on Georges Mikautadze! Discussions are ongoing with Olympique Lyonnais for a transfer following an initial offer of around €25m. The striker has already agreed with the English club. Negotiations will continue.”

Several Premier League sides, as well as Villarreal, have all been linked with a potential move for Mikautadze. Burnley and Brentford have both been associated with the 24-year-old, who only arrived at Lyon last summer for €18.5m.

Current ETV

Georges Mikautadze

F (C)

Lyon

Georges Mikautadze

F (C)

Lyon

€22.7M

ETV Range

€20.4M - €24.9M

View full profile

A more threatening proposition from Villa’s perspective comes from Saudi Pro League side Neom. L’Equipe reports that they are considering a €40m bid and have additional pulling power because they have already signed Alexandre Lacazette and Said Benrahma, a close friend of the Georgia international, from Lyon this summer.

Mikautadze scored 17 goals and created 11 more in a comparatively successful campaign with OL, which would up with them reaching the Europa League. The France-born striker has also netted once in two Ligue 1 appearances this term.

Lyon’s difficult financial situation, which almost saw them relegated to Ligue 2 on an administrative basis, has forced the Rhone side into making sales.

"We had a sales target, but it hasn't been fully met. There may be some movement in the last few days and we'll be attacked for players, including Georges. I'm not saying at all that Mikautadze will be sold, but we're studying it, we'll decide. We don't control the market and we're in contact with clubs who want our players," Lyon recruitment director Matthieu Louis-Jean said at the Europa League draw, FootMercato reports.

Mikautadze to Aston Villa, then, stands every chance of being completed.

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