Aston Villa agree personal terms with Richards - sources

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Published on:

28 Jun 2023, 2:30 am

Aston Villa have agreed personal terms with West Brom star Rico Richards as they look to finalise a deal, sources have told Football Insider.

The Premier League club are closing in on the capture of the attacking midfielder, 19, from their Midlands rivals.

Football Insider exclusively revealed last Saturday (24th June) that talks are at advanced stage over a free transfer and are progressing well - with Unai Emery's recruitment team confident of securing a full agreement with the player.

Now they have finalised terms with Richards over a contract in what is a key development to completing the move.

Villa are increasingly confident of doing so.

Richards will leave West Brom for free at the end of June when his contract with the club expires.

The Baggies announced last month (23 May) that the 19-year-old will be joined by the likes of Ramello Mitchell, Cianole Nguepissi, Sammy Okoka and Sam Oluwatobi in departing The Hawthorns.

Richards was a regular for West Brom Under-21s in the 2022-23 campaign, notching four goals and five assists in 20 appearances.

He also turned out once for Carlos Corberan's senior side last term, playing 10 minutes off the bench in a 2-0 defeat at Hull in March.

The versatile operator made 77 appearances in total for West Brom's Under-21 and Under-18 sides, scoring 17 goals and registering 10 assists.

Richards primarily plays in attacking midfield but can also star on either wing and lead the line.

Aston Villa will play Europa Conference League football in the 2023-24 campaign after finishing seventh in the Premier League last term.

The Midlands giants have already completed the signing of Youri Tielemans on a free transfer and are working on multiple other big-name deals, including defender Pau Torres, midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and wide man Hirving Lozano.

In other news, Aston Villa close in on club-record signing.

West Bromwich Albion

Aston Villa