The "Here we go" has been spoken. On Friday, January 23, 2026, Aston Villa reached a verbal agreement in principle to sign Tammy Abraham from Beşiktaş. The 28-year-old England international is now on the verge of a sensational return to Villa Park, nearly seven years after his legendary loan spell helped fire the club back into the Premier League.
With Villa directors currently in Turkey to finalize the paperwork, the deal marks a significant statement of intent from Unai Emery as he looks to bolster his attack for the second half of the season.
The Deal Breakdown: Fee, Swap, and Terms
The negotiation was a complex three-way puzzle involving AS Roma (the original parent club) and Beşiktaş (who recently triggered their obligation to buy him).
The Fee: Villa will pay €21 million (£18.2m) plus performance-related add-ons.
The Player Exchange: As part of the arrangement, 20-year-old defender Yasin Özcan will move to Beşiktaş. Özcan, who was on loan at Anderlecht, is being recalled specifically to facilitate this transfer.
Personal Terms: Abraham has reportedly agreed to a 4.5-year contract worth approximately £4 million per season after tax.
Timeline: Abraham is expected to fly to Birmingham over the weekend for a medical, with the club hoping to register him before the February 2 deadline.
While Watkins remains the talisman, Abraham’s superior aerial presence and physical hold-up play provide a tactical "Plan B" that Villa have lacked.
His current form in Turkey—averaging a goal every two games—suggests he is back to the clinical best that saw him score 26 goals for Villa in 2018/19.
The "Rabat" Connection
Villa officials were reportedly convinced to pull the trigger after watching Abraham in person during Beşiktaş' recent win over Kayserispor. Despite being linked with Crystal Palace and Everton, Abraham’s preference was always a return to the club where he is still considered a cult hero.
Unai Emery (via TNT Sports): "We are finishing the transfer window and hopefully we can get everything we need to complete the squad. We need players who know the pressure of this league."
The Verdict: This is more than just a nostalgic signing. Villa have secured a proven Premier League goalscorer in his prime for a relatively modest fee. If he can replicate his chemistry with the likes of John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey, Villa’s top-four hopes just received a massive injection of adrenaline.