Aston Villa have entered the transfer race for Hidemasa Morita, the Japanese international preparing to leave Sporting CP when his contract expires this summer, according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo. Brighton have also joined the running, and both clubs now compete directly with Leeds United, who had previously appeared to be the frontrunners for the 31-year-old’s signature.
Aston Villa enter the race for Sporting CP’s trusted midfield anchor
Leeds explored this transfer in 2025, and manager Daniel Farke has repeatedly expressed admiration for the midfielder in Portugal. Morita brings proven quality to any negotiating table as he averaged roughly four ball recoveries per game this season, collected just three yellow cards as a defensive midfielder, and contributed directly to Sporting’s back-to-back Primeira Liga title wins in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
His 164 appearances since joining from Santa Clara in 2022, producing 11 goals and 16 assists, confirm consistent reliability. His availability on a free transfer naturally drives interest from multiple clubs, and with European football all but confirmed for Aston Villa and Brighton next season, this competition matters.
Does Morita actually address Aston Villa’s most pressing midfield gap?
Unai Emery has built Villa into a top-tier European side, deploying deep positional structure and pressing intelligence that demand technically secure midfielders who read space early. Morita is an ideal profile for his positional awareness and ability to play both a holding and number-eight role, which perfectly serves Emery’s system.
Yet, realistically, age presents a question. At 31, Morita offers experience rather than growth, and Villa’s ambition arguably requires midfielders who can carry this project forward across multiple years. His defensive discipline is real, but his attacking output remains modest. Aston Villa should pursue him as quality cover, not a cornerstone signing.
Aston Villa hold a clear advantage over Leeds in this race
Aston Villa’s confirmed European football for 2026-27 gives them a significant pull that Leeds simply cannot match right now. Morita has consistently sought Premier League football, and Villa deliver that alongside Champions League competition.
That combination, combined with Emery’s proven reputation for developing players intelligently, makes Villa a compelling destination. Leeds remain well-positioned due to their long-standing relationship with Morita, but Aston Villa’s project carries broader ambition, and that matters enormously to a player at this career stage.
