Aston Villa set to sign Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 31 Jul 2021 16:35 BST
• 3 min read

Aston Villa have confirmed that they are set to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey, subject to the player completing a medical and finalising medical terms.

The player is expected to make the move to the Premier League in the coming days for a reported fee of £30 million.

Villa confirmed the news of an imminent deal being completed in a club statement on Saturday, stating that the final details were all that stood in the way of a deal being concluded.

Bailey was once a long-term transfer target for Manchester United, with the Old Trafford side chasing his signature for some time.

However, following the signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in June, Man Utd dropped out of the race for the Jamaica international and it now seems as though Villa have swooped in for the player.

Bailey joined Leverkusen in 2017 from Belgian side KRC Genk for a fee of €13.5 million and over the course of the last five seasons established himself as one of the most promising wingers in the Bundesliga.

In 156 games for Leverkusen, Bailey bagged no less than 39 goals and 26 assists for the club.

Will Bailey replace Grealish?

While Villa fans will be delighted with the signing of the young winger, some may fear Bailey’s arrival will confirm Jack Grealish’s departure to Manchester City.

And while it seems unlikely that Bailey will be tasked with replacing the England international on his own, the Jamaican winger join fellow new signing Emiliano Buendia in what could be a new front line that will be designed to keep the club moving forward after Grealish does leave this summer.

Whether Grealish does in fact leave the club remains to be seen, but it does seem as though Villa have already managed to get their ducks in a row for his departure.