Aston Villa pursue João Palhinha after Bayern Munich reject loan

Aston Villa have submitted a formal proposal for João Palhinha, but Bayern Munich have rejected the initial offer. The German club is demanding a permanent transfer, while the Midlands side has proposed a loan deal that includes an option to buy.

Personal terms have already been reached with the 31-year-old Portuguese international. The disagreement between the two clubs focuses on the payment structure rather than the player's desire to return to the Premier League. Palhinha recently completed a loan spell at Tottenham during the 2025/26 season, where he made 33 league appearances and scored five goals.

Bayern Munich holds the midfielder's contract until June 2028 and is unwilling to agree to another loan arrangement. This follows a similar situation at Tottenham, where the club chose not to trigger a purchase clause at the end of his temporary stay. Bayern originally paid €51m for the player in 2024.

Unai Emery requires defensive midfield reinforcement following the long-term absence of Amadou Onana. Palhinha provides significant statistical value in that role, having won 62% of his duels last season. He also maintained an 85% passing accuracy and contributed two assists alongside his five goals during his time in London.

While a permanent move would require a significant financial commitment for a player of his age, the requirements of Champions League football make his experience a priority. Villa currently face a choice between maintaining their loan structure or meeting Bayern's demand for a permanent sale to secure the midfielder.