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Aaron Wan‑Bissaka: West Ham United defender joins Aston Villa on loan

Aston Villa have completed the signing of West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka on a season-long loan deal.

The deal for the DR Congo right-back includes a “conditional obligation to buy”.

The exact terms are not known, with the Hammers having previously asked interested clubs to pay a £25m fee.

The 28-year-old missed Championship club West Ham’s first two matches of the season during negotiations for a return to the Premier League.

Wan-Bissaka joined West Ham United on a seven‑year contract from Manchester United in 2024. He has made 65 appearances across his two seasons at the club, including 25 last season when the Hammers were relegated to the Championship.

He previously played 190 times for Manchester United, winning the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

More recently, Wan‑Bissaka started all four of DR Congo’s matches at the 2026 World Cup, helping them progress to the round of 32.

The new signing may feature in Villa’s first game of the Premier League at Brighton on Sunday (14:00 BST) and will also compete in the Champions League after the Villans finished fourth and won the Europa League under Unai Emery last season.

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Five things in EFL: West Ham, Lincoln, Blackburn, Bromley, York City

Having just been promoted from the National League South, Bromley finished 14th in the National League in the 2015-16 season.

That same year, Leicester City were upsetting the odds with their famous Premier League title win.

Such has been the rise of Andy Woodman’s Bromley, they can expect plenty more comparisons like that this season and, such has been the Foxes’ fall from grace, they will get similar.

While the Ravens are delighted to be in League One, Leicester are still rubbing the bruised ego which followed their disastrous relegation from the Championship on the back of demotion from the Premier League, amid various financial woes and points deductions.

Now under Russell Martin, rather than opening their home campaign against Arsenal, Liverpool or even Brighton, it is Burton Albion who will make the short trip to the King Power Stadium (15:00 BST) and home fans will find Gary Bowyer’s side have little respect for reputations.

Bromley’s home opener against Cambridge United (15:00 BST) may well be a re-run between two promoted sides from last season, but the hosts have already served notice of their intentions with their 1-0 win at Barnsley last weekend.

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Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Aston Villa agree deal to sign West Ham defender

Aston Villa have agreed a deal sign West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The DR Congo right-back will join on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

Wan-Bissaka has been given permission to travel for a medical in the Midlands but the exact terms are not known, with the Hammers having previously asked interested clubs to pay a £25m fee.

The 28-year-old has missed Championship club West Ham’s first two matches of the season during negotiations.

West Ham have sold Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham for £85m and Crysencio Summerville for £60m this summer, but captain Jarrod Bowen has signed a new contract.

Villa, meanwhile, have also had a busy summer in the transfer market, most notably selling Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for £117m.

They currently have the lowest net spend in the Premier League, at about £110m after sales are taken into account.

Despite that, Villa have signed midfielders Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes, as well as Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho on a loan deal with an obligation to buy. They have also added highly rated young centre-back Modou Keba Cisse.

Villa begin their Premier League campaign at Brighton on Sunday (14:00 BST) and will also compete in the Champions League after finishing fourth and winning the Europa League under Unai Emery last season.

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Celtic’s Arne Engels poised for West Ham United transfer

“I would imagine that he’s probably at this minute doing the medical. Naturally disappointed, really, that he’s leaving the football club, he’s done very well for us.

“And it’s hard to dissuade him of that. If it hadn’t come up, I think he’d have been happy. Even though the offer came in very late from Nottingham Forest in January, he never moaned about it at all.

“So it’s an opportunity for him and it’s really hard for him to turn it down.”

O’Neill understood why Engels was keen to complete the transfer, especially after Canada right-back Alistair Johnston suffered a leg muscle injury amid interest from Everton.

“Ideally, I’d love him to have stayed and maybe completed after the two games,” the 74-year-old, who is fully back to work after a medical procedure last week, said.

“It probably wasn’t going to happen. You’ve got a concern, I suppose, with the fact that Alistair played for us when there was an offer on the table, hurt himself, maybe things like that there may disappear.

“I suppose Arne was probably worried the same sort of thing might happen. From a playing viewpoint, I probably can understand that.”

Johnston went off at half-time in Celtic’s 5-1 win at Kilmarnock on Sunday.

“He’ll be out for a few weeks,” O’Neill said. “By the time he’s fit, he’ll be past the transfer deadline. He’s been very stoic about it, really.

“It’s a shame for him, but it’s not long-term. It’s something that he’ll get over and he’ll be back.”

Celtic signed Egypt winger Haissem Hassan and Germany Under-21 midfielder Mika Baur this week and O’Neill expects further arrivals.

One could be Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo as a loan back-up to Kieran Tierney after the 18-year-old was given a tour of Celtic’s Lennoxtown training centre this week.

“I think he’s a really fine young player,” O’Neill added. “Obviously we need that position covered. Kieran did exceptionally well last season, having been plagued with injuries at Arsenal. He came roaring back, which was great.

“And this young man has definitely got talent. He’s got a bit of an injury at the moment. We’re hoping that that will clear up shortly. And, if it does, and I think it will, I’d love to have him.”

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