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Villa pounce as PSG's Suzuki deal implodes — photo: Football Italia

Photo: Football Italia

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Villa pounce as PSG's Suzuki deal implodes

Aston Villa have agreed a deal worth around €35m including add-ons to sign Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma, according to Football Italia. The move came together within 24 hours of Suzuki's proposed transfer to PSG collapsing at the eleventh hour, reportedly after his entourage made a demand that ended negotiations.

By Liam Beresford· European football·Published ·1 MIN READ

How PSG lost their goalkeeper

Suzuki had been close to joining PSG before his camp's last-minute intervention ended negotiations. Football Italia reports that an outlandish demand from the goalkeeper's entourage prompted PSG to walk away, leaving one of the summer's most sought-after keepers suddenly available. Villa, already in the market for a goalkeeper, moved fast.

Football Italia is the sole outlet reporting the agreement at this stage. The fee of around €35m, including add-ons, makes Suzuki a significant investment for Unai Emery's side. The Japan international has been one of Serie A's standout keepers, and PSG's interest alone signals the level he had reached.

The Martínez domino

The subplot is where it gets properly interesting. Juventus had reportedly been waiting on Villa to secure a replacement before pushing for Emiliano Martínez, and now that Suzuki is incoming, the Bianconeri have submitted a new offer for the Argentine, according to Football Italia.

The catch: the same outlet reports that Juventus remain uncertain about completing the deal. Whether that uncertainty is financial, contractual or simply tactical is not yet clear, but it means the Martínez situation is live rather than resolved. Villa, for their part, now have their answer between the posts. What they do with the question Juventus are asking is the next chapter.

A 24-hour chain reaction

This is the summer window at its most compressed: a PSG deal collapses over an agent's demand, a Premier League club moves within hours, and a World Cup-winning goalkeeper's future shifts overnight.

Football Italia has been across every stage of this story. The Villa-Parma agreement looks done; the Martínez piece is still moving.

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Aston Villa have agreed a deal worth around €35m including add-ons to sign Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma, according to Football Italia.

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Flagside's editors read every piece we publish. We work from the football press, write our own copy rather than reprinting anyone's, and check each article for accuracy and sourcing. Every outlet that fed into this piece is named under Sources.

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