OFFICIAL: Diego Carlos leaves Villa to join Mourinho's Fenerbahce

Diego Carlos has left Aston Villa after two years and a half at the club. The Brazilian will begin his journey in Istanbul under new manager Jose Mourinho after an agreement was reached with Fenerbahce for a deal worth €10million.

"Our club has reached an agreement in principle with the club for the transfer of Diego Carlos, who plays for Aston Villa. The Brazilian player has been invited to Istanbul for health checks and to continue the transfer negotiations," reads a statement from the Turkish side.

Carlos joined Villa for a fee of €31m from Sevilla in the summer of 2022, making him the club's second most expensive centre-back - he is only behind Pau Torres who arrived for €33m in 2023. However, the player was dealt a major blow right at the start of his chapter in England as he ruptured his Achilles tendon in his second appearance for the club, leaving him sidelined for nine months.

The 31-year-old has since struggled to rise in Unai Emery's pecking order as Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres have all been preferred ahead of him for the centre-back position. Hampered by injuries, he has missed 35 games for Aston Villa over three seasons and only counts 10 Premier League appearances in the ongoing campaign.

Now at Fenerbahce, Diego Carlos is expected to see more minutes on the pitch while the Villains can begin their search for a new defensive stalwart to replace him. Emery's side are having a busy winter session having signed Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund and offloaded Jaden Philogene to newly promoted Ipswich Town.

 

January 21, 2025