Villa sign goalkeeper Suzuki and left-back Ruggeri

Zion Suzuki has 28 caps for Japan while Matteo Ruggeri has played for Italy at all levels apart from senior

Aston Villa have confirmed the signings of goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and left-back Matteo Ruggeri.

Japan international Suzuki makes the move to Villa Park from Italian side Parma for a fee in the region of £30m.

Italian full-back Ruggeri joins Villa in a deal worth £17m from La Liga side Atletico Madrid.

Suzuki, 23, joins despite Emi Martinez’s move to Juventus collapsing over the weekend, with the two clubs unable to agree a fee.

Martinez, who helped Villa win the Europa League in May and was victorious in the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, faces an uncertain future after his failed move to Juve.

Villa view 23-year-old Suzuki as their long-term number one, potentially for the next decade.

He had been at Parma for two years, making 59 appearances for the Serie A side and helping them finish 13th last season.

Ruggeri, 24, who is yet to be capped at senior level for Italy, comes in to replace Lucas Digne - who signed for European champions Paris St-Germain on 9 August.

A Europa League winner with Atalanta in 2024, Ruggeri made over 100 appearances for the Serie A side before completing a transfer to Atletico last summer.

Both could make their debuts in Sunday’s Premier League opener at Brighton.

Suzuki’s former coach at Sint-Truiden in Belgium, Dennis Rudel, conjures up an intriguing image of Villa’s new goalkeeper.

“We played in Anderlecht and after the game we went out to the bus and there was a fight with hooligans,” he tells BBC Sport.

“The head coach called for Zion: ‘Come here, get out of the bus and clear the situation.’

“It was a joke but you have a picture of Asterix and Obelix and everything is flying away. You have never seen a goalkeeper or a player like that.”

The comparison with Asterix, the cartoon character who gains immense strength after taking a magic potion, is telling, and Rudel believes Villa have signed a unique player.

“I saw his power immediately. To show your strength in the game you have to let the tiger out on the pitch, let the beast out. He is so powerful, I have never seen a goalkeeper like it,” said Rudel, who worked with Suzuki when he was on loan at Sint-Truiden in 2023-24.

“He has such big hands and is powerful - when he can reach the ball it will be 90-95% a save, maybe other keepers touch the ball but it goes in. With him it is something really special.

“After the first two weeks of working with him I said to him you don’t need your apartment, you live in the gym.”

Rudel also praised Suzuki’s distribution, with both his arms and feet, and believes his former player can become one of the world’s best.

“It’s possible because if he stays healthy and with his physical strength there is no one better in the world, in terms of dynamic, jumping power, throws, kicking the ball,” said the former Union Berlin coach.

“When I watched him at the World Cup, his biggest strength is he is mentally clear - the focus on the game or the training sessions is so good. He is always prepared, really disciplined.

“When I see how he always adapts so quickly over the last four years, I’m convinced he can play at that [Premier League] level.

“There are big footsteps from Martinez [to follow], you get measured and compared to Martinez. It would be the same at Bayern Munich with the new Manuel Neuer - Jonas Urbig who is starting to replace him - you get compared to the former player.

“He’s aiming to show he can be one of the best. He was immediately one of the top four or five goalkeepers in Serie A.

“As a person and a player, he is a role model and how you should behave. I don’t see any weakness in him.”

Rudel was key in bringing Suzuki to Europe having travelled to Japan in 2020 for coaching clinics and met Suzuki’s coach at Urawa Red Diamonds, with the goalkeeper being flagged to him.

Sint-Truiden, who have also had Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Crystal Palace duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Daichi Kamada on their books, are owned by Japanese electronics and internet company DMM.com.

That helped pave Suzuki’s route to Belgium, and a year later he joined Parma for £8m.

“[In 2023] we were looking for a new goalkeeper and had a couple of on the list but all of a sudden the club said we had an option to get Zion. I said to the sporting director ‘forget the list - if we can get him, get him’,” added Rudel.

“His level went up really quickly, he is very ambitious, he wanted to learn a lot, he asked a lot. We did a lot of video analysis and I can remember how nice it was to work with him. It was a shame it was only one season.”

Barcelona sign Rodri from Man City in £65m deal

Barcelona have announced the signing of midfielder Rodri from Manchester City in a deal worth in the region of £65m.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has signed a four-year contract at the Nou Camp, returning to Spanish football for the first time since he left Atletico Madrid in 2019.

Rodri, 30, leaves City after seven seasons at the club, having made 298 appearances and won 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2023.

His final two seasons at the club were disrupted by injury but he returned to his best form in this summer’s World Cup, being named player of the tournament as Spain lifted the trophy for the second time.

In a farewell message to City fans, Rodri said: “I am leaving the club with a huge sense of pride about what we have achieved and gratitude too for so many amazing memories.

“What we have done together in these years is something both very special and unforgettable.

“City didn’t just make me a grow as a player. They made me grow as a human. I saw my brother graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University. I could see my girlfriend working for the NHS. Manchester shaped my whole life.”

Rodri was into the final 12 months of a contract he signed with City in 2022, and although the Premier League side wanted to give him an extension, talks did not yield a result.

Real Madrid looked best placed to sign the midfielder, but sources told BBC Sport Barcelona had Rodri’s approval to open negotiations with City.

Speaking to Spanish radio in March about the prospect of joining Real Madrid, former Atletico player Rodri said: “There are more players who have taken that path. Not directly, but over time. You can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.”

However, Real Madrid ended their interest and after City rejected Barcelona’s opening offer of £38.5m, an agreement was reached for a figure well in excess of that initial approach.

On Monday, Rodri flew to Barcelona and told journalists at the airport that it is a “dream” to play for the Catalan side.

Kane set to begin talks over new Bayern contract

Harry Kane says he is ready to begin discussions with Bayern Munich over extending his contract with the Bundesliga champions.

The 33-year-old striker has entered the final 12 months of the four-year deal he signed after his £86.4m move from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2023.

Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions for Bayern last season as Vincent Kompany’s side completed a league and cup double.

“We obviously said we wanted to talk after the World Cup and after my holiday. So I’m not sure exactly when, but they’ll start this week, next week… we’ll start those talks,” Kane said.

“Like I’ve said before, we’re calm, I think they’re calm with the situation.

“Obviously now is the time to start talking, because there’s only a year left. That’s important. But both sides are relaxed, and I’m pretty sure there’ll be some talks this week or next week.”

The England captain has scored 98 goals in 94 games across three Bundesliga campaigns, and has won three successive Bundesliga Golden Boot awards.

Kane scored six goals for England at the 2026 World Cup, becoming England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 14 goals in 18 appearances.

He is among the favourites to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, but insisted he is focused on the upcoming season.

“The Ballon d’Or is as big as it gets, from an individual point of view,” he said.

“I know I had a great season last season, but the focus is on this new season.

“The Ballon d’Or’s not in my hands. I’ve done what I can do in terms of putting in the performances. It’s now down to votes and other people and the media - stuff I can’t control - so we’ll see what happens.

“Obviously, it would be amazing if it was to happen. But ultimately, it’s still two or three months away before that’s decided so it’s not something that’s at the front of my mind right now.”

Musiala collapses during match for second time

Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala says he is being treated for a “neurological dysfunction” after collapsing during a match for the second time in a four-day period.

On Tuesday, Musiala collapsed six minutes after coming off the bench in Bayern’s 4-2 friendly victory at Heidenheim.

The 23-year-old appeared dazed as he received medical treatment and was helped off the pitch.

The incident occurred after he collapsed during Saturday’s 3-1 friendly win over RB Leipzig in Munich.

Musiala later posted a statement on Instagram to ease fears about the situation.

“I’ve been diagnosed with temporary, brief, but easily treatable absence seizures, which are due to a neurological dysfunction,” he explained.

“These can lead to the recent episodes, like the one against Leipzig or now in Heidenheim. I know they seem scary at first glance - but for me, they’re currently just part of my everyday life.

“I’m receiving excellent medical treatment and am very optimistic. FC Bayern and my family and friends are always by my side and supporting me on this journey.”

Following Tuesday’s game, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl had said the player would be speaking about the matter later, adding: “We knew about it and we are aware of the situation.

“Jamal will speak out. He’s in the dressing room, getting changed and taking a shower.”

Musiala missed the first six months of last season after breaking his ankle at the 2025 Club World Cup, but returned in the second half of the campaign and started three of Germany’s four games at the 2026 World Cup.

Newcastle complete £30m move for Benfica's Dedic

Newcastle United have signed defender Amar Dedic from Benfica for about £30m.

Dedic has joined the club on a five-year deal after having a medical on Tyneside on Monday.

He has reunited with manager Matthias Jaissle, with whom he previously won the Austrian title at Red Bull Salzburg in 2023.

“It’s a special feeling and a really big honour for me to join Newcastle United,” he said after the move was announced on Tuesday, his 24th birthday.

“I’m really happy to be here and can’t wait to start playing for the club and the amazing fans.”

“Working with Matthias again was a big factor for me. We know each other well. He knows what I can bring on the pitch and I’m really happy to be playing for him again.”

“Playing Premier League football at St James’ Park is going to be really special. Every game feels like a big occasion, with an amazing atmosphere. I’m really excited to get started.”

Newcastle had been in the market for a new right-back following the departure of veteran Kieran Trippier, who joined Wolves on a free transfer when his contract expired earlier this summer.

Dedic could quickly be called upon to feature in Newcastle’s season opener at home to Liverpool on Sunday as Tino Livramento is still recovering from a calf injury he sustained on international duty with England in June.

Jaissle said he was “really looking forward” to working with the defender again.

“He’s a player who I know really well, having worked with him from a young age in Austria and followed his career since,” he said.

“He will bring both defensive and attacking qualities to our squad, which suits the style of football that we want to play.”

“He’s athletic, aggressive and technically very good, but also has a lot of potential to develop further.”

Dedic has already experienced what it is like to play at St James’ Park.

The defender was part of the Benfica side thumped 3-0 by Newcastle in the Champions League last season, so he will be hoping for a much happier experience if he lines up against Liverpool on Sunday.

Dedic is one of Newcastle’s oldest signings this summer – which is saying something – and only the second over the age of 20, alongside goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek.

The defender has never played in the Premier League before and, like all of Newcastle’s six arrivals, he will need time to adapt to the intensity and physicality of the top-flight.

But Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson has already noted how Dedic is “incredibly hungry” to prove himself.

Dedic, crucially, already knows what Jaissle demands and expects from his full-backs, so it is likely the head coach will not think twice about throwing him in at the weekend, even after just a handful of training sessions with his new team-mates.

He certainly has the engine to get up and down the pitch.

Although Dedic only made 24 appearances in Portugal’s Primeira Liga last season, he ranked second for full-backs for carries into the attacking third (49) and third for progressive carries (202) and total carries (325).

His ability to also offer cover at left-back will be invaluable, but Newcastle clearly need further reinforcements before the window shuts on 1 September.