Emiliano Buendia on the verge of Aston Villa exit on loan | OneFootball

Aston Villa winger Emiliano Buendia is on the verge of joining Bayer Leverkusen on loan in the January transfer window.

The Villa attacking midfielder has made 12 substitute appearances in the Premier League in 2024/25 and is yet to start a game.

He made one start in the Champions League and also started in two league games. Needless to say, the 28-year-old has struggled for regular game time this season under Unai Emery.

According to Florian Plettenberg, Leverkusen have reached a “total agreement” with Villa for Buendia. Previously, they had reached a verbal agreement.

The versatile attacker will join the German side on loan for the rest of the season, and Leverkusen will have the option to buy him permanently next summer. He will undergo his medical shortly.

The Argentine will replace Martin Terrier, who will miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.

Buendia joined Villa in the summer of 2021 from Norwich City, and has made less than 100 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals.

His career at Villa Park has been blighted by injuries, and it makes a lot of sense for Villa to let him go elsewhere in search of regular games. The move suits all parties involved.

Villa have signed Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund this month, and Buendia would have further dropped down the pecking order.

In all probability, Buendia may have played his last game for Villa already. He is not a major part of Emery’s plans, and the Villa boss will not mind selling him next summer.

Villa are desperate to secure a top-four finish this season, and they are looking to bolster their squad. Despite signing Malen, they want one or two more attacking midfielders, and Chelsea’s Joao Felix has been targeted.