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Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Wed 20 May 2026 14:06, UK

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Hidemasa Morita would be interested in joining Aston Villa on a free transfer after leaving Sporting CP, sources have told Football Insider.

The 31-year-old midfielder is set to become a free agent once his contract expires this summer, and it is understood that the Villans’ Champions League qualification is a huge selling point for him.

Football Insider have already revealed that Morita is “exploring all his options” ahead of an interesting summer transfer window for the Japanese international, and Villa are one of the clubs keeping tabs.

Villa face tough competition for Morita’s signature. Leeds United hold a strong interest in the player, but Unai Emery’s side appear to be stealing a march ahead of the summer.

Ao Tanaka could still hold the cards in Aston Villa transfer race

Leeds are unlikely to be out of the race completely, and Ao Tanaka could hold the key to Daniel Farke’s side keeping ahead this summer due to his links on the international stage.

Tanaka and Morita both star for the Japan national team, and given the former’s upturn in form in recent weeks, he could be selling a dream move to Elland Road over the coming weeks.

Villa, of course, have far more to offer than the Whites do in footballing terms, given their Premier League standing and European participation, but that will only be part of the player’s consideration.

Once Boubacar Kamara returns from injury, he’ll join a midfield group of Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana and Lamare Bogarde. That’s a lot of competition for a player who has never featured in England before.

Amadou Onana could make way for Hidemasa Morita

If Villa are to sign Morita, Emery would likely need to make room in the current squad, and potentially even free up funds for other areas of the pitch as well.

Mick Brown told Football Insider that Villa could accept a “huge” offer for Amadou Onana, with Kamara and Tielemans far too valuable, and Douglas Luiz and Ross Barkley likely to depart anyway.

Football Insider understands that Tielemans is increasingly likely to stay, despite strong interest from Saudi Arabia, but there are still too many options in the centre of the pitch to introduce another name.

Morita is definitely a talented player, so it would be a shame to see a Premier League rival win the race for his signature, but the Villans may have to sacrifice one of their own to make room.