Aston Villa make move for Joao Palhinha as Bayern Munich demand permanent transfer

Aston Villa have made an offer to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha on loan with an option to buy, but the German club have rejected the proposal and are insisting on a permanent sale.

Palhinha has already reached a full agreement with Aston Villa over personal terms, according to German journalist Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sport. The Portugal international agreed the terms several days ago and is now waiting for the two clubs to resolve their differences.

The structure of the proposed transfer remains the main obstacle. Aston Villa favour a loan deal that would include the option to make the move permanent, while Bayern Munich want to sell Palhinha outright.

Bayern are understood to be seeking between €25m and €30m for the midfielder. Aston Villa have not matched that preference with their initial proposal, leaving the negotiations at an impasse.

Aston Villa sporting director Damian Vidagany has publicly confirmed the club’s interest in Palhinha. The Premier League side are looking to strengthen their midfield after Amadou Onana suffered a cruciate ligament injury.

Palhinha joined Bayern Munich from Fulham in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth €51m, with a further €5m potentially due in add-ons. However, he has not established the role he was expected to occupy at the Bundesliga club.

The midfielder spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Tottenham, having struggled to secure a regular position at Bayern. His future now depends on whether Aston Villa are prepared to alter their preferred loan-based proposal or Bayern Munich soften their insistence on a permanent transfer.

Palhinha had previously built a strong reputation during his time at Fulham, but his move to Bayern Munich has not developed as anticipated. The German club’s valuation reflects their desire to recoup a substantial proportion of the fee paid for him, while Aston Villa’s interest has been driven by the need to add further depth and experience in midfield.

For now, the personal terms agreed between Palhinha and Aston Villa have not been enough to complete the transfer. The Portugal midfielder remains reliant on an agreement between the clubs before he can move to Villa Park.