Aston Villa have been linked with a move for rising star Nicolò Tresoldi, the Germany Under-21 striker who has taken European football by storm. The Athletic reports that Villa are among several clubs who admire the 21-year-old, whose breakthrough season at Club Brugge has been nothing short of meteoric.
Who Is Nicolò Tresoldi?
Born in Sardinia in August 2004, Tresoldi is the son of former Atalanta left-back Emanuele Tresoldi. Growing up in Gubbio, central Italy, he was a talented tennis player and represented Italy at Under-12 level. Ultimately, he chose football over tennis, saying: "The feeling you have after you score a goal is probably why I chose football."
Early Career and Development
At age 13, Tresoldi moved to Hanover, where his head teacher recommended him to Hannover 96's youth academy. He turned professional at 18 and made his first-team debut in July 2022. Over two seasons, he scored 14 goals in 77 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga. Former Hannover coach Christoph Dabrowski praised him as "a totally intelligent player who understands the game, is technically sound, has a good sense of space, and is extremely good in the air." Ex-Hannover defender Michael Tarnat predicted: "His career is paved with goals."
Success at Club Brugge
Last summer, Tresoldi joined Club Brugge on a four-year deal after helping Germany's U21s reach the European Championship final, scoring once en route to defeat by England. Initially a backup to Romeo Vermant, he won the trust of head coach Ivan Leko and ended the season with 23 goals in 58 games, including strikes against Monaco, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. He also became top scorer in the Belgian top flight as Brugge won their 20th title. Leko praised him: "He is a boy who arrives first and leaves last. He gives it his all in every training session."
Transfer Speculation
In March, Sky Sports Germany claimed Tresoldi is planning a move this summer, with a fee of around €25-30 million mentioned. Champions League clubs from Spain, Italy, and Germany are keen, alongside Arsenal, Porto, and now Aston Villa.
International Ambitions
Tresoldi has scored six goals in six starts for Germany's U21s this season, including a hat-trick against Latvia. He came close to a call-up for the senior World Cup squad, with head coach Julian Nagelsmann admitting: "He was very, very close to making the squad. He's not a classic target man, but he's a classic striker." Nagelsmann ultimately selected Maximilian Beier, Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav, and Nick Woltemade instead.
Playing Style and Personality
Tresoldi speaks Italian, German, and excellent English, and is learning Spanish. He describes his biggest strength: "In the box and scoring goals. I am a really good header. I always say the box is like my living room, so I just know where I have to be, how I move."
Aston Villa Fit
Unai Emery's system relies heavily on Ollie Watkins' mobility and work rate. Signing Tresoldi would add a different type of striker—a penalty-box poacher—who could offer a Plan B without disrupting Watkins' role. However, questions remain about whether one strong season in Belgium justifies the reported fee. With strikers, clubs must often invest in potential before fees skyrocket.
