Aston Villa Sign Zion Suzuki and Matteo Ruggeri in £47m Double Deal

Aston Villa have completed the signings of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri, adding two defenders in deals reported to be worth a combined £47 million. BBC Sport reported on Wednesday that Suzuki has moved from Parma for a fee in the region of £30 million, while Ruggeri has joined from Atletico Madrid in a £17 million deal.

Suzuki, 23, arrives with 28 senior caps for Japan and two seasons of Serie A experience at Parma. He made 59 appearances for the Italian club and was part of the side that finished 13th last season. Before moving to Italy, Suzuki spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Belgian club Sint-Truiden after beginning his career with Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan.

His arrival comes even though Emiliano Martinez remains at Villa after a proposed move to Juventus collapsed over the weekend. According to BBC Sport, Villa and Juventus were unable to agree a fee for the Argentina goalkeeper. Martinez helped Villa win the Europa League in May and was part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning team, but the report said his future remains uncertain. Villa regard Suzuki as a potential long-term first-choice goalkeeper.

Ruggeri, 24, moves to Villa after one season with Atletico Madrid. The defender had previously made more than 100 appearances for Atalanta and was a member of the team that won the Europa League in 2024. He has represented Italy at youth levels but has not yet played for the senior national side.

The left-back is set to fill the place vacated by Lucas Digne, who signed for European champions Paris Saint-Germain on August 9. Ruggeri’s experience in Italy and Spain gives Villa a new option on the left side of their defence, while Suzuki adds competition and a possible succession plan in goal.

Both new signings could make their Aston Villa debuts in Sunday’s Premier League opener away to Brighton. Their availability would give the club two fresh defensive options at the start of the domestic campaign, following a combined outlay that underlines Villa’s investment in the goalkeeper and left-back positions.