Aston Villa set to make first January signing after fee agreed

The 25-year-old Dortmund man is set to check into Villa Park as Unai Emery's first addition of the window in a move worth around £21million, plus add-ons.

Reports in Germany last week suggested that Dortmund were looking for a figure of around £25million for the forward.

Malen, a former Arsenal youth team player, has been with Dortmund since 2021 and has netted 39 goals in 132 appearances.

Personal terms have been agreed over a move to the Premier League, with a medical and other formalities still to be concluded, reports state.

Dutch international Malen has played 41 times for his country and scored nine goals.

Emery is boosting his attacking ranks with Jaden Philogene heading the other direction to Ipswich Town in a £23m move, one Emery described as "the best deal for Villa".

Villa are also targeting a move for Celta Vigo's former Barcelona defender Oscar Mingueza.

The Netherlands international is a versatile frontman capable of playing across the forward line. 

Malen, initially at Ajax as a schoolboy, was a hot product while at Arsenal in his teen years but was poached for a return to his homeland by PSV Eindhoven in 2017.

A prolific few seasons led to a big move to Germany. Since joining Dortmund back in 2021, Malen has gone on to bag 39 goals in 132 games for the Bundesliga side.

His most prolific goal return came in the 2023/24 season as he netted 15 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions - and helped Dortmund to the Champions League final.

So far this season the Dutch international, who has won 41 caps for Holland, has found the net five times in 21 outings and will help to bolster Villa's front line and add to Villa's forward options.