Aston Villa agree deal to sign Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma

Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Parma to sign Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki during the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic.

The Premier League club will pay an initial €30m for the 23-year-old, with a further €5m available in performance-related incentives that could take the total value of the transfer to €35m.

Suzuki has agreed a five-year contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2031. He has also informed Parma that moving to Villa has always been his preferred option during the current transfer window.

Aston Villa have been monitoring Suzuki for the past two years and made him their principal target in preparation for the possible departure of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

That move is now drawing closer, with Juventus having submitted a new offer for Martinez. The Italian club are proposing €10m for the 33-year-old, made up of €7m guaranteed and a further €3m in incentives linked to the team’s success.

Talks between Aston Villa and Juventus are continuing after the gap between the two clubs’ respective positions narrowed. Personal terms are not expected to present an obstacle for Martinez.

Suzuki’s arrival would therefore provide Aston Villa with a long-term replacement for Martinez as the club reshapes its squad under manager Unai Emery. The Japan international has established himself as Parma’s first-choice goalkeeper since joining the Italian side in the summer of 2024 from Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds, following a loan spell in Belgium.

He quickly became Parma’s regular starter and has made 57 appearances in Serie A over the past two seasons.

Suzuki started all four of Japan’s matches at the 2026 World Cup. Japan were eliminated by Brazil in the round of 32.

Aston Villa are preparing for the new campaign after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season and winning the Europa League. The club remain active in the summer market as they continue to rebuild and refine their squad.

The proposed deal for Suzuki represents a significant investment in a goalkeeper who has attracted Villa’s attention over an extended period. It also comes as the club faces uncertainty over Martinez’s future, with Juventus attempting to complete a move for the Argentina international.