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Aston Villa Shatter Transfer Record, Sign Club Brugge’s Wesley Moraes

By Josh Tonti

MOUSCRON, BELGIUM - AUGUST 05: Wesley Moraes da Silva #7 of Club Brugge KV looks dejected after the referee shows him a red card during the Jupiler Pro League match between Royal Excel Mouscron and Club Brugge at Stade Le Canonnier on August 5, 2018 in Mouscron, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
MOUSCRON, BELGIUM - AUGUST 05: Wesley Moraes da Silva #7 of Club Brugge KV looks dejected after the referee shows him a red card during the Jupiler Pro League match between Royal Excel Mouscron and Club Brugge at Stade Le Canonnier on August 5, 2018 in Mouscron, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Aston Villa Football Club shattered their transfer record on Thursday, when Club Brugge announced the transfer of 22-year-old Brazilian striker Wesley Moraes to the claret and blues.

Out of nowhere, Aston Villa found their target forward. It is not Tammy Abraham, it is not Dwight Gayle, and it is sadly not Maxi Gómez. But what they got might be just as exciting as the Uruguayan.

The arrival of Club Brugge’s Wesley Moraes, Belgium’s Young Professional Footballer of the Year in 2017/2018, after four seasons in the Jupiler Pro League, is a club record £22 million transfer. The previous record was the £18 million transfer of Darren Bent in 2011.

Kristof Terreur dropped the news to an unsuspecting Twitter audience:

It was later confirmed by both clubs:

Wesley signed a five-year deal with Villa, hopefully ensuring a long and fruitful career in England’s top flight. Despite being 22, and a young 22 at that (turns 23 in November), Wesley will be counted on early and often. He’ll slot in as the No. 1 centre-forward on the depth chart immediately, replacing the aforementioned Abraham, just ahead of Jonathan Kodjia, Scott Hogan and Keinan Davis. The former two, of course, have been the speculation of transfer moves themselves. It’s possible, likely even, Villa acquire another forward before the transfer window closes on Premier League opening day-eve.

But, Big Wes and his 6’3″ frame is an exciting as hell signing. He’ll get the Christian Benteke comparisons as a young striker Villa signed from the top of the league in Belgium. And while their player profiles aren’t too dissimilar, Wesley offers upside in many different areas.

Astonishingly enough, he should become the first Brazilian to ever don the claret and blue of Aston Villa Football Club. Welcome, Wesley! UTV.

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