Aston Villa announced the acquisition of Dutch international Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, reinforcing their attacking lineup with a proven player.
The 25-year-old forward transferred to the Premier League club for a reported €23 million (£19 million, $24 million), with an additional €3 million in potential add-ons.
The club stated in an official announcement, “Aston Villa is pleased to confirm the signing of Dutch international Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund.”
Malen, who scored 39 goals in 132 matches for Dortmund since his arrival in 2021, played a key role in propelling the German side to last season’s UEFA Champions League final. He also made his mark internationally, scoring nine goals in 41 appearances for the Netherlands. The forward was part of the Dutch squad that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2024.
Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s manager, viewed Malen as a vital addition to the team’s aspirations for consecutive UEFA Champions League qualification. Currently, Villa is sitting eighth in the Premier League table, just four points behind the top four.
Villa’s Champions League campaign also shows promise, with the team in fifth place in the group stage standings with two matches left.
Malen’s arrival may prompt a shift in Villa’s transfer strategy regarding Colombian forward Jhon Duran. Despite limited first-team chances, Duran has scored 12 goals this season, often playing a supporting role to England striker Ollie Watkins.
Reports suggested that injury-plagued clubs like West Ham and Chelsea had expressed interest in Duran before the transfer window closed.
