Aston Villa agree deal to sign Arsenal starlet who Mikel Arteta fast-tracked into Gunners first-team

ASTON VILLA have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Arsenal defender Lino Sousa.

The 19-year-old left-back moved to the Midlands with his family aged eight.

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Aston Villa are set to sign Lino Sousa from Arsenal[/caption]

He was soon snapped up by West Brom, progressing through their academy ranks, before Arsenal pounced.

Mikel Arteta brought him to the Emirates in January 2022.

He has been included several times in the first-team training with the Gunners and featured for the club’s U23s in the EFL Trophy.

Sousa, an England U19 international, has been named on the bench in the Premier League for Arsenal but now looks set to return to the West Midlands.

A host of clubs were allegedly chasing his services.

However, former Gunners boss Unai Emery has apparently won the race for his signature at Villa.

That is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

He broke the news on X, formerly Twitter, with details of the deal on Wednesday, although the transfer fee has not been revealed.

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Romano wrote: “Aston Villa agree deal to sign Lino Sousa from Arsenal on permanent move, here we go!

“Agreement in place for 2005 born fullback who’s set to complete medical in the next hours.

“Rangers, Galatasaray and Juve were keen but Sousa set to join #AVFC.”

Villa are now in a race against time to complete the transfer before tomorrow’s 11pm deadline.

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