Aston Villa have agreed personal terms with Club Brugge defender Joel OrdΓ³Γ±ez as Unai Emery accelerates plans to overhaul his defensive options. The 22-year-old Ecuador international center-back has greenlit a potential move to Villa Park, signaling his desire to test himself in the Premier League. Negotiations between Villa and the Belgian side remain ongoing, with Club Brugge reportedly holding out for a transfer fee between Β£34 million and Β£43 million before sanctioning the deal.
The urgent pursuit of OrdΓ³Γ±ez comes in the wake of significant changes across Villaβs defensive line, following the departure of key center-back Ezri Konsa to Arsenal. Emeryβs side has turned their primary focus toward OrdΓ³Γ±ez after having bids turned down for alternative target Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Despite currently recovering from a foot injury expected to keep him sidelined until autumn, OrdΓ³Γ±ezβs raw physical profile and European experience have kept him high on Villaβs recruitment priority list.