Aston Villa Back In The Race For €25M Defender: Would He Solve The Long-Term Problem?

Aston Villa Back In The Race For €25M Defender: Would He Solve The Long-Term Problem? Aston Villa have Thomas Kristensen firmly on their summer shortlist, with TuttoMercatoWeb, via Sport Witness , reporting that Unai Emery’s side are interested in the 24-year-old Udinese centre-back ahead of the 2026/27 season. The Dane joined Udinese from Danish club AGF in September 2023 and has become one of Serie A’s more dependable defenders since then, catching the eye of scouts across Europe with each passing month.

Aston Villa are interested in Thomas Kristensen as the summer race heats up Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are both looking at Kristensen to bolster their backlines, though they face plenty of competition from AC Milan, Bologna, Juventus, and Nottingham Forest. Kristensen wins his aerial battles with ease and is more comfortable carrying the ball out from the back than he is moving it with short passes. He is a player whose game is built on blocks, clearances, and pure defensive work.

That physicality is a clear strength; the way he reads danger and keeps his cool under pressure in a mid-table Serie A side also says a lot about his potential. However, Kristensen’s passing range and his ability to play out against a high press are areas where he still needs to improve. Udinese have set a €25 million asking price and are trying to get him to sign a new contract, though Kristensen has told Danish outlet Campo that he sees his next move as a step toward a bigger club playing in European competition.

Would Kristensen actually solve Aston Villa’s defensive problems for the long term? UDINE, ITALY – MAY 02: Thomas Kristensen of Udinese celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Torino FC at Stadio Friuli on May 02, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) Aston Villa currently sit fifth in the Premier League and are in the Europa League semi-finals against Nottingham Forest , meaning European football next season looks likely, no matter how the next few weeks go.