Aston Villa have reached a £29.9m (€35m) agreement with Parma to sign Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, according to Sky in Italy, with the move arriving as Juventus push to prise current No 1 Emiliano Martinez away from Villa Park.

Juventus enter the picture

Juventus submitted an £8.5m (€10m) bid for Martinez on the same day Villa sealed their agreement for Suzuki. The offer falls short of Villa's asking price for the Argentina international, though negotiations between the two clubs are understood to be ongoing.

The Italian giants had been tracking Martinez since the transfer window opened, and their interest in a replacement was partly shaped by events involving Suzuki himself. Juventus had hoped to land Suzuki on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, contingent on his move to the European champions completing first — but that deal collapsed, prompting Villa to accelerate their own pursuit.

Who is Zion Suzuki?

Suzuki, who turns 24 this month, moved to Parma from Urawa Red Diamonds in 2024 following a loan spell in Belgium. Over the past two seasons, he has made 57 Serie A appearances and established himself as Japan's first-choice goalkeeper.

He started all four of Japan's matches at this summer's FIFA World Cup 2026, where they were eliminated by Brazil in the round of 32. Born in Newark, New Jersey, to a Ghanaian father and Japanese mother, Suzuki grew up in Japan before forging a career in European football.

Villa's busy summer window

The proposed Suzuki signing is the latest move in a hectic transfer window for Villa. The club have brought in Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for £59.5m, Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £38m, Modou Keba Cissa from LASK, and Blade Earley on a free transfer from Cambridge, while Alejandro Garnacho has arrived on loan from Chelsea.

On the outgoing side, Morgan Rogers departed to Chelsea for £117m, Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United for £35m, and Donyell Malen moved to Roma for £21.6m, among several other departures.