Aston Villa have already started the groundwork to sign Lens centre-back Samson Baidoo . The 22-year-old Austrian has earned comparisons to Raphaël Varane after a spectacular debut season in Ligue 1, where he’s played 19 games and scored twice since his €8 million move from Salzburg last summer. Villa view Baidoo as a long-term solution for a defensive line that Unai Emery knows he has to refresh before next season kicks off.
Even with Villa sitting fourth in the Premier League, there is a looming issue: their four main centre-backs are all between 28 and 33 years old. With full-backs Matty Cash and Lucas Digne also 28 and 32, bringing down the average age of the defence is a must. This isn’t just about the numbers; it’s a structural necessity. A team aiming for the Champions League every year can’t afford for the entire backline to age out at the same time, and Baidoo is the type of player who could lead Villa’s defence for the next ten years.
Baidoo is composed on the ball and comfortable playing on either side, offering the kind of versatility Emery loves. He has the physical attributes Villa need without losing any calmness under pressure. His performances have seen the French media compare him to former Lens star Raphaël Varane and ex-Napoli powerhouse Kalidou Koulibaly . For a Villa team that insist on playing out from the back, those traits are essential.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, speaks to the media in a pre-match press conference prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg Two match between Aston Villa FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Villa Park on April 16, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Lens are reportedly holding out for between €45 million and €55 million, even though Baidoo’s market value is closer to €25 million. That gap makes the deal tricky. Juventus also have a foot in the door thanks to a strong relationship with Baidoo’s agent, Meissa N’Diaye, who also represents Khephren Thuram . Villa will need to offer more than just agent ties; they need to sell him on a guaranteed starting spot in a Premier League side fighting for the top four.
Villa need to get this done this summer rather than waiting until 2027. With Lens on track for Champions League football, Baidoo’s price tag is only going one way. Making a move now, before his valuation becomes unreasonable, is the better move. Villa can’t keep relying on an ageing defence and expect Emery’s system to stay competitive at the top level.
