Donyell Malen transfer: New Aston Villa striker could return to Arsenal after £21m move Football news

Just days after completing his £21m move. from Borussia Dortmund to Aston Villa, Donyell Malen could be in line to make his Premier League debut against his former club Arsenal, live on Sky Sports.

With Jaden Philogenes’ return to Villa Park lasting just six months and Leon Bailey failing to recapture his brilliant form from last season – which saw him score 10 goals and add nine assists in the top flight – it was clear that Unai Emery needed reinforcements.

Villa’s interest in Malen has been long-standing, but a good two weeks into the winter window they had their man.

The painting is now returning to England eight years after leaving the Arsenal academy to join PSV Eindhoven in 2017 – and may just have a point to prove when the two sides meet on Saturday night football.

Saturday 18 January at 17.00

Kick off 17:30

Will Malen have a point to prove?

Having idolized Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp throughout his development, joining Arsenal in 2015 was a dream come true for Malen.

His exit from the club two years later – after scoring 27 goals in 67 games for the academy teams – marred his time at the Emirates Stadium.

The striker, who left without making a first-team appearance, was reportedly referred to as “too fat” by Andries Jonker, then head of youth development, ahead of his exit.

Reflecting on his time in north London after securing a £540,000 move to PSV, he told Dutch media: “I heard him say I came in too thick.

“It surprised me. They had already worked at Arsenal for two months when I arrived. Then of course you are not immediately at the same level.

“I wasn’t match fit yet, but too fat? No. It was going well in England, but I still wanted to leave Arsenal because I had the opportunity to sign for PSV. I took that chance.”

Seven years on and with his price tag now skyrocketing to just under 40 times what Arsenal received, Malen could be set to haunt his former side in their quest to close the four points to Liverpool in the title race.

Arsenal could use Malen’s talents

Football works in mysterious ways and for Malen to be back on familiar turf and possibly making his debut against his former club – who no doubt need someone of his profile – is the latest twist in Premier League history.

The 25-year-old is well versed in playing across all positions in a front three and with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri all injured and Raheem Sterling struggling, his talents seem perfectly suited to solve the current issues at the Gunners.

Although he was not prolific in the goalscoring department with 92 goals to his name across 237 senior appearances in his club career, the versatile forward offers another edge to any attack, as well as experience on the Champions League and international stage.

For Villa, the new signing will take pressure off Bailey on the right, provide extra cover for Jacob Ramsey on the left and could even act as the second striker that Emery so often deploys in the form of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans or captain John McGinn.

Paint’s versatility by numbers

Predominantly used in a partnership up front while at PSV, Malen earned himself a £25m move to Dortmund in 2021 after showing his potential with 46 goals in 76 games when deployed as a striker.

Having a dominant figure like Erling Haaland to contend with, and Serhou Guirassy since then, meant the Netherlands international was regularly used out wide, but continued to show his worth by contributing in the final third and creating for his teammates.

His final tally after leaving the Westfalenstadion came in at a modest 39 goals and 20 assists, but with Emery’s track record of getting the best out of players and using them in unorthodox ways, there is enough evidence to suggest that his time in Second City could be fruitful.

Two opposite ends of the striker spectrum

While Malen addresses several problems for Villa and adds crucial depth, the problems for Arsenal only continue to grow.

Shaken by confirmation that striker Jesus had suffered an ACL injury during the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, Mikel Arteta has been left with only Kai Havertz to rely on in the forward areas.

Sky Sports news understand that the Gunners are actively looking for reinforcements in the area, but heading into this game the two sides will be at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to strikers.

While Arsenal will be hoping Havertz regains his best form in front of goal as their only option, Villa are the opposite – even before the addition of Malen – as Emery aims to spread enough minutes for both Ollie Watkins and John Duran.

Duran returned to the starting line-up against Everton after serving his two-match suspension following his red card against Newcastle – and having scored four goals in his last four outings ahead of his time on the sidelines, he is likely to be back in his starting role.

Meanwhile, Watkins, who provided 13 assists to go alongside his 19 goals in the league last season, still currently tops the goalscoring department for Villa with nine. Which is two more than his counterpart has managed in just four league starts.

Having two top strikers fighting for the starting role is an unknown problem to have in modern football – and it’s one Arsenal are likely to envy.

Watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, from 17 on Saturday.