Bayer Leverkusen has opted out of pursuing Manchester City’s James McAtee and has instead turned to Emiliano Buendía. The somewhat forgotten Argentine playmaker first agreed to extend his contract with Aston Villa (from June 2026 to 2027) before the Birmingham club approved a loan move to the German champions. Leverkusen already boasts Florian Wirtz, one of Europe’s finest playmakers, with 11 assists across the Bundesliga and Champions League this season. However, they’ve decided to give the undoubtedly talented Buendía a chance to revive his career. According to Florian Plettenberg, Leverkusen will have a purchase option set at 20 million euros should Buendía shine at the BayArena.🚨⚫️🔴 EXCLUSIVE | Emiliano #Buendia, now on the verge of joiningLeverkusen with immediate effect!Total agreement with Aston Villa now has been reached. Verbal agreement was done. 28 y/o versatile attacking midfielder will join Leverkusen on a 6-month loan with an option to… pic.twitter.com/qbutjgcjIu— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 27, 2025 “Emi” joined Villa in June 2021 as a marquee signing from Norwich City, where he had led the Canaries to Premier League promotion with 15 goals and 16 assists in the Championship. Villa didn’t hold back, spending 38.4 million to make Buendía their most expensive signing in history. While he showed glimpses of quality during his first two seasons, he never truly filled the void left by Jack Grealish’s departure to Manchester City. His 2023/24 campaign turned into a nightmare when a knee ligament injury ruled him out for the entire season.Boniface to partner Ronaldo?Although Buendía has returned to fitness this season, Unai Emery has already built a new-look Villa side capable of competing in the Champions League and challenging England’s elite. Unfortunately, there was no room for the Argentine after a year away from the pitch. While Buendía received offers from Italy and Saudi Arabia, he chose Germany—a challenging environment for his comeback. It remains to be seen how much playing time he’ll get alongside the unstoppable Florian Wirtz. Still, if Buendía can recapture his Championship form, the 20 million purchase clause could prove to be a bargain, especially if Wirtz leaves the club in June 2025.##NAJAVA_MECA_8666218##
