- Aston Villa and Newcastle are reportedly “very interested” in Real Betis winger Ez Abde
- The Spanish club are open to selling to secure a significant profit on the player
- Barcelona are also in the running
Aston Villa are “very interested” in signing Real Betis winger Ez Abde this summer. The 24-year-old is attracting admirers around Europe, with the Spanish Club open to selling after the World Cup.
Ez Abde has been enjoying his best season at Estadio Benito Villamarín, playing a key role in their hunt for Champions League qualification, which they secured on Tuesday night. Throughout the 2025/26 campaign, the left-winger has showcased remarkable consistency by delivering nine goals and eight assists across 27 La Liga appearances.
His high-level output extends onto the continental stage as well, where he contributed an additional four goals in 12 Europa League matches.
Gaining interest
These performances have gained the attention of clubs around Europe, with Villa and Newcastle at the front. Neither club has made an official move, but Diario de Sevilla reports that they are both “very, very interested.”
The Magpies sent representatives to watch the Moroccan at the Estadio de La Cartuja on Tuesday night, where Betis beat Elche 2-1.
Barcelona also remain in the running, but the Catalan club currently objects to re-signing their former player at his current valuation. The Catalan giants are considering him as one of the options to replace Marcus Rashford, should he not return after his loan.
Betis originally signed Ez Abde from the La Liga champions in 2023, retaining a 20% sell-on clause. However, Manuel Pellegrini’s side would still receive a significant profit as the expected fee will be considerably more than the €3.8 million they have left on his contract to amortise.
While his official release clause is €60 million, Betis are open to negotiating at a lower price.
Tactical fit at Villa
From a tactical perspective, Ez Abde represents an ideal fit for Unai Emery’s system. The winger is renowned for his blistering acceleration and fearlessness when running directly at defenders. His distinct ability to beat his marker in tight spaces drags the opposition out of their defensive shape, which creates vital space for central runners like Ollie Watkins.
Crucially for Emery, who demands tactical discipline, the No 10 also boasts excellent defensive metrics. His tackles, interceptions, possession won in the final third, and recoveries all rank in the top 10% for wingers in La Liga. This will satisfy Emery’s requirement for his wide players to aggressively track back to support their full-back.
ReadAstonVilla verdict
Ultimately, Villa’s pursuit of Ez Abde represents a clear statement of intent as Emery builds a squad capable of competing at the highest level. Time will tell if they view him as a potential Morgan Rogers replacement or an addition who adds quality to their team.
Furthermore, he possesses the perfect mould of a winger that would thrive in Emery’s system, and at his age, he has the opportunity to develop into an elite player.
A move won’t be easy, given the interest surrounding him. But if Villa can get a deal over the line, then they will have a forward who will transform their attack.
