Aston Villa transfer news: Leander Dendoncker and Jan Bednarek join club - BBC Sport
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Aston Villa transfer news: Leander Dendoncker and Jan Bednarek join club

By Simon Stone & Phil McNultyBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Aston Villacomments51

Leander Dendoncker
Leander Dendoncker has made 29 appearances for Belgium, scoring one goal

Aston Villa have signed Belgium midfielder Leander Dendoncker in a £13m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Villa have also signed Southampton defender Jan Bednarek, 26, on loan as cover for new signing Diego Carlos, who has ruptured his Achilles.

The move for 27-year-old Dendoncker came as bids were made for Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz.

Luiz attracted interest from Arsenal but Villa were adamant the 24-year-old was not for sale.

West Ham United and Everton were also admirers of Dendoncker, who is also capable of playing in a back three.

He started Wolves' first two Premier League games before making appearances off the bench in their next two matches.

He joined Wolves in August 2018 from Belgian side Anderlecht and made 159 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.

"I can feel that this a big club, you can just feel it. I obviously know the players from playing against them, and I know it's a very good team with good players," Dendoncker said.

"I'm really happy to be here."

Poland defender Bednarek joins on a season-long loan.

He joined Southampton from Lech Poznan in 2017 and has made 153 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals.

He has started two Premier League games for Saints this season and also played in their 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Cambridge.

"I'm happy, excited and looking forward to a new adventure for me," he said.

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51 comments

  • Comment posted by blah, at 21:43 1 Sep 2022

    Oh dear, oh dear - the reality of the Gerrard era is now starting to hit me. Two journeymen signings on deadline day and possibly one of our best players (Luiz) on his way - although I really, really hope not.

    Has a kinda Paul Lambert feel to business.... No idea what's going on this window.

    • Reply posted by B68Villa, at 22:59 1 Sep 2022

      B68Villa replied:
      It's hard make a case as anything but the manager well at least the biggest problem.

  • Comment posted by Utcheterwolf, at 21:49 1 Sep 2022

    Genuinely..as a Wolves season ticket holder of 20 years… desperation by villa 🤦‍♂️

    • Reply posted by blah, at 21:56 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      As a Villa fan of more than a few decades, this is worryingly familiar

  • Comment posted by blah, at 22:12 1 Sep 2022

    Every time a new story pops up I'm dreading we've sold Luiz....

  • Comment posted by The Spin Doctor, at 21:33 1 Sep 2022

    Wolves continue to sell and sell and sell.

    • Reply posted by blah, at 21:54 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      Their surplus players..... To us?! When did that become a thing. Now, if we were taking Neves or Neto, that's a different story

  • Comment posted by WSV, at 21:22 1 Sep 2022

    A change of tactics from Gerrard?

    Two in midfield with wingers?

    Has the penny dropped?

    • Reply posted by finnharpsman, at 22:29 1 Sep 2022

      finnharpsman replied:
      He needs to decide on some tactics that work for that squad of players. If well managed they could finish in the top half. If poorly managed, they could be going down with Rogers' lot.

  • Comment posted by D1693637682750, at 21:41 1 Sep 2022

    Good solid player gives a bit of steel in the middle of the park.

    • Reply posted by blah, at 21:49 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      I can see at least that in Dendoncker I guess, but there are statues less solid and more mobile than Bednarek. Him and Chambers at centre half sounds like a relegation duo.

      Coutinho and Digne aside - who have signed that is better than what we already have? All the others are same level or a bit worse

  • Comment posted by eric, at 00:59 2 Sep 2022

    Good luck to both players

  • Comment posted by X RAY, at 21:52 1 Sep 2022

    Erm,nice signings.

  • Comment posted by B68Villa, at 22:51 1 Sep 2022

    Cunning plan buying our relegation rivals players.
    Seriously think solid enough Dendoncker plays both CD and DM.
    Bednarek as cd loan makes sense*
    Both now give option to switch to back 3, protects the fullbacks more than play wider midfielders. If gerrard is capable of changing it....

    Personally would have took the Luiz offer. 23m even with man c taking a slice.

    • Reply posted by blah, at 23:22 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      My worry with Bednarek is that he'll actually get games at centre back, like Chambers, when Gerrard uses his great man management skills to publicly humiliate Ming's again. If he's just cover then it's ok... I guess.

      Selling Luiz now makes no sense as we have no one of the same level to replace him. What good is £23 million if losing him gets us relegated. It's madness.

  • Comment posted by Wolf That Wanders, at 12:35 2 Sep 2022

    Issue i have is the fact that Lage has ripped the heart out of the wolves team, we have very in-experience CB now we and no senior cover in that position, CM Donk has always been behind Neves and Mot, hard working player and gets forward. Lage seems to lack the ability to get the team spirit going and seems to think if we only have Portuguese in the team he can get his way.

  • Comment posted by jumpersforgoalposts, at 21:06 1 Sep 2022

    Ambition?

    • Reply posted by blah, at 21:45 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      Avoiding a relegation battle feels like the total of it with these signings.... Gerrard and Coutinho will be gone by this time next year

  • Comment posted by Mate, at 22:56 1 Sep 2022

    You could have had 25 mil for Luiz, now you will get nothing for him come end of season

    • Reply posted by blah, at 23:15 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      But we would have been replacing him in the team with Dendoncker, at which point, £25m lost is a bargain

  • Comment posted by woody, at 23:07 1 Sep 2022

    Nice to see some changes at Wolves, too many journeymen. Lage needs some results and fast.

    • Reply posted by blah, at 23:18 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      Was Coady a journeyman? Boly? Seem to recall that was the heart of the Wolves defence.

      I agree with stripping away dead wood, but you need something better to replace it with.

      Lage is proving to be a massive mistake, like Gerrard.

      Race you to bottom of the league

  • Comment posted by Wolf That Wanders, at 12:41 2 Sep 2022

    Face it you know you manager is a tin pot when he sells 2 x 29 year old Proven and trusted CBs and is trying to sign Dawson. if that doesn't ring alarm bells in the Wolves Board. when the PAC comes gunning for them. and they wonder why. Sellers has history as a get away driver.

  • Comment posted by D1685704230166, at 07:18 2 Sep 2022

    That's it, Villa !! Get the Championship players in, ready for next season !!

  • Comment posted by SesReay, at 08:23 2 Sep 2022

    The key to success is team work!

    Remember the European Cup team built by Ron Saunders. No outstanding "world class" "stars" just a brilliant team spirit. You'd see it at Bodymoor Heath up close.

    A question to any genuine Villa fans on here whinging - how is it helping?

  • Comment posted by sickbeggar, at 22:15 1 Sep 2022

    A wolves cast-off and a defender from a team famous for getting tanked at least once a season? Thank God Stevie Me has the pulling power to attract the big name players 😂😂😂

    • Reply posted by Czarian, at 23:11 1 Sep 2022

      Czarian replied:
      So he’s got bouncebackability, could be a season dependent on bouncebackability

  • Comment posted by julzyboy, at 10:40 2 Sep 2022

    Both teams will struggle this season. Unless, Villa play with more width and only start players in form. Wolves need to keep their better players fit and start scoring more. Tbf Wolves started slow last season. Gerrard looks like a man knowing the axe is coming.

  • Comment posted by kaiyo, at 12:05 2 Sep 2022

    And caleta-car and Maitland Niles, two players we were linked with both go to Southampton, so why weren't we in for them?

  • Comment posted by readingbalzac, at 22:48 1 Sep 2022

    If we sell mc ginn for 40 millions now and Luis signs a new contract i could understand. Now we have at least competition but Gerrard needs to play the right players and that is sth he has problems with along with tactics. But Couthino was brilliant.just as Dinge.

    • Reply posted by blah, at 22:51 1 Sep 2022

      blah replied:
      What? How could you "understand" selling McGinn???? What???!! Because we signed Dendoncker.

      Words fail me

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