Aston Villa have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Arsenal defender Lino Sousa, with Unai Emery’s side beating a number of clubs.
The 19-year-old left-back is regarded as one of the north London side’s most talented young players, with Sousa joining Arsenal from West Bromwich Albion in 2022.
An England youth international, the Portuguese-born teenager is yet to feature for Arsenal’s senior team despite training with Mikel Arteta’s side on numerous occasions.
Yet according to Fabrizio Romano, the defender is now set to join Villa, with the Premier League side beating the likes of Juventus and Rangers to Sousa’s signature.
Described by West Brom coaches as an ‘outstanding’ prospect, Arsenal losing Sousa will come as a bitter blow for the club’s long-term plans, with the defender a potential first-teamer under Arteta.
However, for the player himself, making the move to Villa could be a wise decision for Sousa, especially with Emery being a coach who is willing to give youth players an opportunity.
Lino Sousa could become a star one day for Aston Villa
Sousa is a name who Arsenal fans have become accustomed to over the past two years, which is why the defender’s departure could come as a shock to some this afternoon.
However, given who Sousa is joining, there’s every chance that the teenage defender could one day become a superstar for Villa if Emery is willing to give the fullback a chance.
Indeed, the 19-year-old is clearly confident in his abilities to one day play in the Premier League, and those odds will increase massively after heading to Villa.
Moreover, Arsenal could pocket a good amount of money from this deal, with the specifics of the transfer yet to be revealed at the time of writing.
