Aston Villa is a solid club under Unai Emery, and NSWE is supporting the Spaniards in the transfer market. But who is the record signature for the villa?
Football FanCusto looks at the top 10 in detail, looking at the most expensive signatures in Aston Villa’s history.
Aston Villa’s most expensive signature ever | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | player | commission | signature | year |
1 | Mussa DV | £51.9 million | Bayer Leberkusen | 2023 |
2 | Amadou Onana | £50 million | Everton | 2024 |
3 | Ian Matzen | £37.5 million | Chelsea | 2024 |
4 | Emiliana Nobuendia | 33m | Norwich City | 2021 |
5 | Pau Torres | £31.5m | Villarreal | 2023 |
= 6 | Ollie Watkins | £30 million | Brentford | 2020 |
= 6 | Leon Bailey | £30 million | Bayer Leberkusen | 2021 |
8 | Diego Carlos | £26.8 million | Sevilla | 2022 |
9 | Evan’s guess and | £26 million | Nice | 2025 |
= 10 | Lucas Dignet | £25 million | Everton | 2022 |
= 10 | Danny Ins | £25 million | Southampton | 2021 |
12 | Wesley Moraise | £22 million | Club Bruge | 2019 |
13 | Doniel Maren | £21 million | Borussia Dortmund | 2025 |
14 | Tyrone Mings | £20 million | Bournemouth | 2019 |
15 | Darren | £18 million | Sunderland | 2011 |
= 16 | Philip Coutinho | £17 million | Barcelona | 2022 |
= 16 | Bertraore | £17 million | Lyon | 2020 |
= 16 | Emiliano Martinez | £17 million | Arsenal | 2020 |
= 19 | Douglas Lewis | £15 million | Manchester City | 2019 |
= 19 | Matt Targett | £15 million | Southampton | 2019 |
Find out more about Aston Villa’s 10 most expensive signatures.
10
Lucas Dignet
£25 million from Everton
Left-back Lucas Dignet moved from Everton to Villa Park under Stephen Gerrard in January 2022, and the Frenchman became a regular under Emery.
Despite Emery bringing in Alex Moreno, Dignet remained first choice, primarily during his manager’s first full season.
9
Evan’s guess and
£26 million from Nice
Evan Speculation signed the only real marquee at the villa in the summer of 2025, with a positive from the French side of about £26 million.
Ivory Coast International, speculation is in demand, and you can play anywhere on the front line.
8
Diego Carlos
£26.8 million from Seville
Defender Diego Carlos had injuries after signing Aston Villa.
The Brazilian joined Villa in 2022 and ruptured his Achilles tendon in his home debut after being nominated as vice captain under Gerrard. He was sold to Fenerbafe in 2025 in a permanent deal.
7
Leon Bailey
£30 million from Bayer Leverkusen
Winger Leon Bailey arrived from Bundesliga side Bayer Lebakusen in 2021, but the Jamaican is another fight in the treatment room.
Bailey scored his best season at Villa in 2023/24, scoring 10 goals in 35 Premier League matches and providing nine assists, but was loaned out to Rome in 2025.
6
Ollie Watkins
£30 million from Brentford
Without a doubt, one of the villa’s best value signatures in the top 10 was striker Ollie Watkins, who arrived at Villa Park from Brentford without prior Premier League experience.
The forward starred under a number of different managers, scoring more than 10 Premier League goals in each of his five seasons.
5
Pau Torres
£31.5 million from Villarreal
Centre back Paulo Torres was one of Emery’s top targets in the summer of 2023 after previously collaborating with his fellow countrymen at Villarreal.
NSWE managed to bring Torres to the Midlands. This is a rewarding decision so far, with the Spaniards signing contracts until 2028.
4
Emiliana Nobuendia
£33 million from Norwich
Aston Villa won the race in 2021 to sign Emiliano Buendia from the city of Norwich, after a Argentinian starred on Carrow Road, piping something like Arsenal into a deal.
Unfortunately for Buendia, he missed the entire 2023/24 season through injury, but remains on a contract until 2026.
3
Ian Matzen
£37.5 million from Chelsea
After lending it with Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa made a permanent move to sign left-back Ian Matzen from Chelsea.
Maatsen, which cost around £37.5 million, signed a six-year contract at the time and was in the contract until 2030.
2
Amadou Onana
£50 million from Everton
Central midfielder Amadu Onana also arrived at Villa Park in 2024 after spending £50 million from Everton in 2024 ahead of the Champions League campaign.
The Belgian is a shining light with Toffee and has signed with the villa until 2029.
1
Mussa DV
£51.9 million from Bayer Leverkusen
The charts and villa’s record-breaking signatures are Musa D-Bee, who arrived from Bayer Lebakusen, like Bailey.
The winger quickly became a key player under Emery, helping the club finish in the top four in 2023/24. However, Diaby then moved to Saudi Arabia, paying the French about £50 million.
