Aston Villa signs Netherlands forward Malen from Borussia Dortmund

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa signed Netherlands forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of 21 million pounds ($25.6 million) on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Malen had 18 months of his contract remaining at Dortmund.

He joined Arsenal’s academy from Ajax in 2015 but returned to the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven in 2017 without making a senior appearance for the Gunners. He has been at Dortmund since 2021.

The emergence of Jamie Gittens as a starter has limited Malen’s playing time this season.

Malen played in last season’s Champions League final as Dortmund lost 2-0 to Real Madrid but only off the bench because of the impact of Jadon Sancho, who was on loan at Dortmund at the time.

Malen has remained part of Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman’s plans, though, and has 41 career games for his country.

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The Associated Press