Aston Villa's midfield rebuild continues with the acquisition of Joao Gomes from Wolves. The Brazil international, previously dubbed 'The Pitbull', brings a combative style to Villa Park, offering a fantastic opportunity to play Champions League football.

Gomes is a tackling machine; over the past three Premier League seasons, he made 380 tackles, 83 more than any other player in the competition. Beyond his strength and possession recovery, he is an aggressive presence who pressured the opposition 1,646 times last season—more than any Aston Villa player under Unai Emery.

While his scoring record is modest, with only seven goals in 116 Premier League appearances, his work rate and ball-carrying ability are impressive. He averages nearly 20 carries per 90 minutes, surpassing teammates like John McGinn and Youri Tielemans. Though Emery prefers control, Gomes' humility and personality suggest he will become a popular figure on the Holte End.