Aston Villa has confirmed the signings of Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri, significantly bolstering their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
Aston Villa has announced the signings of two new players: Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri. Suzuki arrives from Italian side Parma, while Ruggeri's last stint was with Spanish club Atletico Madrid, according to BBC Football.
Interestingly, sources disagree on the fee for Suzuki. According to Stijena.info, the transfer from Parma to Aston Villa is worth around £8 million. On the other hand, BBC Football reports the figure to be in the region of £30 million. For Ruggeri, BBC reports that Atletico Madrid received £17 million.
The 23-year-old Suzuki has drawn the most attention, with his physical prowess particularly highlighted by his former coach Dennis Rudel. Rudel worked with the Japanese goalkeeper during his loan spell at Belgian club Sint-Truiden in the 2023/24 season. According to Rudel, Suzuki was a special player with the potential to reach the top level in English football.
He jokingly mentioned that Suzuki barely needed an apartment because he spent most of his time in the gym, working to improve his physical fitness. To illustrate Suzuki's strength, Rudel used an unusual comparison to the characters Asterix and Obelix. He recalled a match at Anderlecht, after which there was a clash with hooligans near the team bus, and the coaches joked that the Japanese goalkeeper should be sent out to calm the situation.
Rudel emphasizes Suzuki's large hands and his skill at saving shots that other goalkeepers would barely touch. He described him as a highly focused, dedicated, and always ready player. He believes that such pressure won't be a problem because his former player wants to prove he belongs among the world's elite. "Zion Suzuki, Rudel asserts, with good health and continued development, can become one of the best goalkeepers in the world," reports Stijena.info. Beyond his footballing abilities, he praised his conduct and professionalism, highlighting him as an example any coach would want in their squad.
Suzuki spent two years at Parma, making 59 appearances for the Italian top-flight club, which he helped to a 13th-place finish in Serie A last season. Parma brought him in after a successful season in Belgium. At Aston Villa, any new goalkeeper will inevitably be compared to Emiliano Martinez, the Europa League winner with Villa and 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina, whose transfer to Juventus fell through over the weekend as the clubs couldn't agree on a fee. BBC Football reports that Villa sees the 23-year-old as a long-term solution between the posts, potentially for the next decade.
Matteo Ruggeri (24) arrives as a replacement for Lucas Digne, who signed for European champions Paris St-Germain on August 9, 2026. Ruggeri won the Europa League with Atalanta in 2024, making over 100 appearances for the club before moving to Atletico Madrid last summer. He has yet to make his senior debut for Italy.
Both players could make their debuts as early as Sunday, when Aston Villa opens its Premier League season away at Brighton.
