Aston Villa fans will love what Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said about player they're trying to sign

Aston Villa have entered the race for Julian Quinones after his clinical run of form throughout the 2026 World Cup.

Reports have suggested that the Birmingham outfit are closely observing the 29-year-old striker after a series of brilliant performances for Mexico.

Contacts have recently intensified between Villa and Al Qadsiah, and while no offers have been submitted yet, this could change in the coming weeks.

Before the World Cup, Quinones was on fine form in Saudi Arabia and ended the season as the top scorer with 33 goals.

As a result, he beat the likes of Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Golden Boot before he went on to net four goals in five matches in the World Cup.

Many of his former teammates have previously spoken highly of Quinones, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Julian Quinones is a remarkable finisher

Aubameyang and Quinones once formed a formidable partnership at Al Qadsiah before the former Arsenal striker moved to Marseille in 2025.

While the duo were unable to lift a trophy in Saudi Arabia together, the Mexican international left quite an impression.

Before England’s 3-2 win over Mexico, Aubameyang did a big interview with L’Equipe on 5 July talking about Quinones and his qualities.

Here, the striker heavily praised Quinones, and in one section, when asked how to describe him, he said: “A competitor, a hard worker, first and foremost. 

“In Saudi Arabia, when things are going well at the beginning, you can easily become complacent. 

“Not Julian: his growing confidence pushed him to work harder every day.

“We lived next door, so we added extra sessions at the compound gym.

“On the court: a beast, a technically gifted player, and a remarkable finisher.”

Therefore, if Sky Sports’ report is true, and Villa are chasing Quinones, Aubameyang’s praise of the attacker will excite many of the fanbase as Unai Emery looks to upgrade his options up top.

How good is Quinones?

According to Fotmob on 11 July, Quinones has been remarkable in the Saudi Pro League.

Last season, per 90 minutes, he was averaging 1.09 goals, a 0.91 xG, 4.49 shots, 0.13 assists, a 0.16xA, 0.33 big chances created and 2.91 recoveries.

These stats are simply remarkable, even when taking into account that the Saudi Pro League is weaker than many other divisions around the globe.

Therefore, despite his lack of experience in a top-five league, everything indicates that he would be an instant hit in the Premier League.

However, it remains to be seen if Villa are able to get a deal over the line for the attacker ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.