Aston Villa join Newcastle United in race for £25m Arsenal defender

Aston Villa have reportedly joined Newcastle United in the transfer race for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney. 

The 25-year-old has been on the fringes of the squad this season, making only five Premier League starts so far. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko, who arrived from Manchester City in the summer, has been Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back, with the Scot mostly being featured off the bench. 

Tierney’s current contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to expire in June 2026, but he could end up leaving in the summer transfer window. 

Newcastle have been credited with an interest in the Scotland international, with the Magpies reportedly confident of securing his signature. 

But now according to The Telegraph, Aston Villa are also plotting a move for the 25-year-old this summer. 

Tierney joined Arsenal in 2019 in a deal worth £25 million and has gone on to make over 100 senior appearances. 

However, Zinchenko’s arrival in London has pushed him down the pecking order, with the Ukrainian proving to be an excellent signing so far.

The Scot will want regular minutes and that’s why he is likely to leave the Gunners soon. 

Villa look like an attractive destination for him as they have seen a huge transformation under Unai Emery. 

They are now in contention to qualify for Europe next term, with the Midlands outfit just a point behind sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion. 

The club have been very impressed with the Spanish boss and are keen to back him in the summer transfer window. 

It is said that they are also considering bids for Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.