Aston Villa have agreed a deal with Villarreal to sign Pau Torres.
The Spain international, 26, has agreed personal terms over the move to Villa Park.
Torres emerged as one of Unai Emery’s top targets early in the summer transfer window.
The move will see the left-footed centre-back reunited with Emery, the pair having worked together at Villarreal.
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Villa have already agreed a deal to sign Youri Tielemans on a free transfer following his exit from Leicester City. They are also interested in a move for Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams.
Torres was a key player for Villarreal last season, making 39 appearances as the club finished fifth in La Liga to secure Europa League football next season.
He has 23 caps for Spain and was part of the squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Torres is set to join Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos and Calum Chambers as Villa’s senior centre-back options. If he completes a move to the West Midlands, Torres will be Villa’s first signing since they appointed Spaniard Monchi as their sporting director earlier this month.
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Pau Torres - rising star Villarreal centre-back in demand
How did Torres perform last season?
Analysis by Tomás Hill López-Menchero
Torres was an ever-present for Villarreal this campaign under both Emery and Quique Setien, the former Barcelona boss who replaced Emery when he left for Aston Villa. He only played 90 minutes for Spain at the World Cup in Qatar — their 2-1 group-stage defeat to Japan — but he was much more reliable for his club side as they finished fifth and secured Europa League football.
How does he play?
Analysis by Tomás Hill López-Menchero
Torres is a silky defender who is cool in possession and likes to play out from the back. Despite being 6ft 3ins, aerial duels are not his strong suit — as was demonstrated by his shaky partnership with Aymeric Laporte at Euro 2020. But he will play a key role in the build-up for Emery’s Villa, just as he did for his Villarreal side.
(Photo: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
