Arsenal left-back Lino Sousa set to join Aston Villa

Arsenal left-back Lino Sousa is set to join Aston Villa in a permanent move, according to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The 18-year-old will complete his medical in the coming hours as both clubs look to get the deal over the line before the January transfer window shuts at 11 pm on Thursday.

Sousa joined Arsenal from West Bromwich Albion in 2022 but never got to make his first-team debut for the Gunners.

🚨🟣🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Aston Villa agree deal to sign Lino Sousa from Arsenal on permanent move, here we go!

Agreement in place for 2005 born fullback who’s set to complete medical in the next hours.

Rangers, Galatasaray and Juve were keen but Sousa set to join #AVFC. pic.twitter.com/iHAOQxY0kh

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2024

He will be keen to prove himself at Villa after not getting the chance at North London, and Arsenal fans will be keeping tabs on him and see if he ends up forcing his way into the plans of Villans manager Unai Emery.

Rangers, Galatasaray and Juventus were also interested in recruiting the services of the Gunners teenager, but it is Villa who have won the race.

Sousa showed huge potential at West Brom, playing a key role as their youth team reached the semi-final of the 2021 FA Youth Cup, and Arsenal quickly swooped on him.

His talents impressed their youth coaches and there were talks in the summer of 2022 to fast-track him into first team training.

He continued to impress and many believe he was the major reason the Gunners allowed Joel Lopez to return to Spain that summer despite being a regular for their under-23 side and weighing in with two goals and five assists in 2021-22.

Sousa was part of their pre-season training camp to Germany that summer and was also with the squad when they faced FC Zurich in the Europa League in September 2022.

The Portugal-born defender made his first Premier League matchday squad later that month in the game against Brentford but did not get to make his first-team bow.

Sousa has what it takes to become a Premier League star, and Arsenal may end up ruing their decision not to hold on to him for much longer and give him a chance to prove himself in senior football.