Aston Villa have completed the signing of Villareal center-back Pau Torres for a club record fee.
The center-back, who still had one year on his current deal, played 39 times for Villarreal last season and was a member of the Spain team that advanced to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Torres’ release clause was set at €70 million (£60.4 million), but it’s believed Villa has negotiated arrangements that will allow them to pay over a longer period of time.
With 12 goals in 173 games for the team he played for as a youngster, Villareal, he has also earned 23 appearances for Spain. Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, who will compete in the Europa League play-offs in August, has already signed Youri Tielemans from Leicester City on a free transfer and is preparing to go for the signing of Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen.
