Aston Villa are closely following Jonathan Rowe’s development at Bologna this summer, according to French journalist Sébastien Vidal. Unai Emery has pinpointed the 23-year-old winger as a key target to enhance their attacking lineup. This information aligns with reports from Sport Witness and TuttoBolognaWeb, which also highlight that Aston Villa faces competition from Chelsea and Galatasaray for Rowe’s signature.
Aston Villa Targets Rowe as Bologna’s €40m Exit Clause Surfaces
Rowe transferred to Bologna from Marseille last summer for approximately €20m, a bargain partly due to a fallout with Adrien Rabiot during his time in France. Although he struggled initially in Serie A, Rowe’s performance dramatically improved in 2026.
During the season, he scored eight goals and tallied five assists in 42 competitive matches, with four of those goals coming in the Europa League, notably including a well-executed strike against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals. With expectations of Jadon Sancho and Leon Bailey departing Villa Park this summer, Emery is keen on adding width to his squad, with Rowe at the top of his list.
Bologna finished the season outside of European qualification, which might compel them to part with one of their top players. TuttoBolognaWeb indicates that negotiations for Rowe could start around €40m. While Rowe’s contract at the Stadio Dall’Ara extends until 2029, providing Bologna with considerable leverage, the lack of European competition significantly diminishes their bargaining power.
Should Aston Villa sign him?