Aston Villa signs Netherlands forward Malen from Borussia Dortmund

By The Associated Press

Dortmund's Donyell Malen, left, celebrates after scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund, in Wolfsburg, Germany, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Swen Pförtner]

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