Aston Villa Set to Offload Former Record Signing at Cut Price Amid Leeds United Interest

Shock Exit Looms as Aston Villa Prepare to Cut Ties With Former Record Signing Amid Leeds United Interest
Aston Villa are reportedly ready to part ways with one of their most expensive-ever signings for nearly half of his original price – and Championship winners Leeds United are circling with intent.
The Midlands club, who have enjoyed a steady rise under Unai Emery, are undergoing a summer reshuffle that could see some big names depart. At the centre of the unfolding story is a player who once commanded a £38 million fee and was viewed as a key component of Villa’s long-term attacking strategy.
This latest development points to the club’s willingness to clear the decks and focus on younger, in-form talent after an injury-hit campaign for several players. While Villa are building toward a European challenge, they are also seeking balance in their finances and squad dynamics. One name being quietly pushed toward the exit door has caught the attention of both fans and media.
That player is Emi Buendia.
The Argentine playmaker, who has made 99 appearances for Aston Villa, is expected to leave the club this summer following five years of highs and lows in claret and blue. Once hailed as a major coup after Villa beat Arsenal to his signature, Buendia’s career at Villa Park has been a story of flashes of brilliance, untimely injuries, and unfulfilled promise.
Buendia missed the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign with a devastating ACL injury and hasn’t started a Premier League match since May 2023. His last league start came in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur — a match that now feels like a distant memory in light of the Argentine’s lengthy absence and Villa’s evolution under Emery.
During the second half of last season, Buendia was sent out on loan to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. While he showed glimpses of the creativity that once made him the Championship Player of the Season, he was unable to convince the German club to pursue a permanent deal, especially following the managerial change that brought Erik ten Hag to the helm.
Now, Leeds United have re-entered the race, having previously missed out on Buendia in the January window. The Whites, under the stewardship of Daniel Farke, are pushing hard to bring the attacking midfielder to Elland Road. The move would reunite Buendia with the coach who brought the best out of him at Norwich City.
During the 2020/21 Championship season, Buendia scored 15 goals and registered 16 assists under Farke’s management — leading Norwich to the title and earning individual honours as the division’s top performer. It was that spell of brilliance that convinced then-Villa boss Dean Smith to invest heavily in the Argentine, viewing him as the perfect replacement following Jack Grealish’s departure to Manchester City.
While Buendia’s first couple of seasons in the Premier League yielded modest returns — including a combined nine goals and nine assists across two campaigns — his influence waned under Emery. Other players, including emerging talents like Morgan Rogers, have since stepped ahead of him in the pecking order.
In truth, Buendia has not been a total failure at Villa. His technical quality, flair, and work ethic are still widely respected. However, the weight of expectation from a £38m fee and the untimely injury at a critical point in his career have prevented him from reaching the heights fans hoped for.
Villa’s willingness to now accept a fee in the region of £20m signals their readiness to move on — and for Buendia, a reunion with Farke and a fresh start at Leeds could be exactly what he needs.
The Yorkshire club, back in the Premier League after winning the Championship, are keen to add creativity and experience to their midfield. With Farke’s familiarity with Buendia and Leeds’ ambition to stay up and compete, the move is beginning to feel like a logical next chapter for both parties.
Caught Offside reports that the deal is still in its early stages, but Leeds are considered front-runners. Should it go through, Buendia would become one of Leeds’ statement signings of the summer and potentially one of the league’s biggest redemption stories.
With Villa needing reinforcements elsewhere and Buendia eager to revive his career, this could be a rare case where all sides walk away satisfied.