Aston Villa and Sevilla have reportedly sealed an agreement over a deal worth €32 million for 24-year-old French defender Loic Bade.
According to a report by Spanish outlet ABC Sevilla, Loic Bade has been the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans have secured an agreement with Sevilla over a deal worth around €32 million, including add-ons, for the French defender. However, the 2024 Olympics silver medalist has decided to stay at the Andalusian club.
Meanwhile, a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football has shed more light on the situation surrounding the Frenchman. The journalist has claimed that Aston Villa will walk away from the deal to sign Bade after he rejected the opportunity to move to the West Midlands outfit in the winter transfer window.
The rise of Loic Bade in the European market
Loic Bade has found a stable footing since joining Sevilla from Stade Rennais in 2023. The 24-year-old was in a frustrating situation after his loan move to Nottingham Forest failed, and the Andalusian outfit took a chance on him by sealing a temporary deal in January 2023. A solid second half of the 2022/23 season compelled Los Nervionenses to complete a permanent move in the subsequent summer transfer window.
Bade has been a mainstay at the back for Sevilla in the last two years, turning out 77 times thus far while chipping in with two goals and two assists. In addition, he was recently part of France’s campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the silver medal for the home nation. Meanwhile, the French defender’s progress has not gone unnoticed, alerting several well-known clubs, including Aston Villa.
Aston Villa’s interest
Aston Villa’s interest in Loic Bade made sense. The Villans have sanctioned Diego Carlos’s departure, with the Brazilian defender joining Fenerbahce this month. With Pau Torres on the sidelines, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa are the only two reliable centre-backs in Unai Emery’s squad.
So, Aston Villa must sign a centre-back in the winter transfer window, with Bade emerging as a viable target. However, the 24-year-old Frenchman has been resisting the move to Villa Park, even though the West Midlands outfit advanced the deal to sign him. Aston Villa even secured an agreement on a package worth €32 million with Sevilla.
However, the deal will not see the light of day, with the French defender decided to remain at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. So, with Bade rejecting Aston Villa, the Villans have abandoned the move, and they must set their sights on alternatives for the 2024 Olympics silver medalist in the coming days.
