Official | Bayer Leverkusen sign Emiliano Buendia on loan with €20m purchase option | OneFootball

Following the successful completion of his scheduled medical, Argentina international Emiliano Buendia was officially unveiled as a new Bayer Leverkusen signing on Wednesday afternoon. The 28-year-old heads to the Bundesliga on loan from Preier League side Aston Villa. With the signing, the defending Bundesliga champions have tended to the gap in attack opened up by Martin Terrier’s season-ending-injury.

Kicker reports that Leverkusen have secured a €20m purchase option as part of the deal. Additionally, Kicker notes that Buendia apparently extended his contract with Villa in order to facilitate the six-month loan. Villa reportedly don’t wish to give up on their player despite the fact that his recovery from an ACL rupture that caused him to miss the entire 2023/24 campaign has been slow.

In the current Premier League season, Buendia has made only 12 substitute appearances. He made one Champions League start, looking tepid and mediocre in a 1-0 loss to AS Monaco. There remain many question marks around the player Villa once paid a whopping €38m to acquire from Norwich City, but both the player and his new German club maintain optimism about a fresh start.

“Emiliano Buendia is a solid, technically adept footballer who is passionate and tenacious,” B04 sporting director Simon Rolfes noted in a club statement. “He has proven himself in more than 100 games in the demanding Premier League and brings a wealth of experience to help us reach our goals.

“The Bundesliga is very appealing to me,” Buendia himself added, “Bayer 04 Leverkusen is the defending champion and, in addition, for me, one of the best and most interesting teams in Europe. A great team that plays attractive football. I’m sure I can contribute to the club’s success.“

GGFN | Peter Weis