Aston Villa are completing the transfer of Atletico defender Matteo Ruggeri after the two clubs exchanged all the required documentation for the deal, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian is set to move to the Premier League club for an initial fee of €25m, with a further €1.5m available in performance-related bonuses. If the additional payments are triggered, the total value of the transfer could rise to €26.5m.
The final formalities are expected to be completed shortly, with Ruggeri then set to officially join Aston Villa. The deal remains subject to the conclusion of that process, although the exchange of the necessary documents represents a significant step towards completing the move.
Ruggeri has been an Atletico player since the summer of 2025, when he joined the Madrid club from Atalanta. His time at Atletico has therefore lasted only a relatively short period before Aston Villa moved to secure his services.
The transfer will see Ruggeri leave Spanish football for England, with Aston Villa agreeing to pay a guaranteed €25m for the defender. The structure of the agreement also includes a possible €1.5m in bonuses, meaning the final cost could reach €26.5m.
Romano’s report indicates that the administrative work between the clubs has already been carried out. Aston Villa are now waiting for the remaining steps to be completed before the transfer can be formally confirmed.
For Atletico, the agreement would bring an end to Ruggeri’s spell at the club after his arrival from Atalanta in 2025. For Aston Villa, the move represents a significant investment in an Italian defender who has only recently moved to Atletico.
No further details of the bonus conditions have been provided, and the transfer’s final value will depend on whether those additional payments are earned. The immediate expectation, however, is that Ruggeri’s switch to Aston Villa will be officially completed in the near future.
The move remains the central development in the negotiations between the clubs, with the transfer documents already exchanged and the fee agreed at €25m before bonuses. Once the final formalities have been concluded, Ruggeri will complete his move from Atletico to Aston Villa.
