Abde Ezzalzouli to Aston Villa from Real Betis
Verdict Delivered
This rumor DIED. It was dropped from the board after going quiet, last rated 1%.
| Move | Real Betis → Villa |
| Outcome | Never happened |
| Rated at the end | 1% |
| Resolved | August 1st |
Villa's pursuit of the Real Betis winger is over. Inside Futbol reported on July 29th that a move to Villa Park is now off the table for Ezzalzouli, the Garnacho deal having settled Emery's left-sided attacking vacancy and ended Villa's interest. That follows the July 22nd reporting that the club had no intention of triggering the €60m release clause in a contract running to 2029, choosing instead to put the attacking budget into Garnacho. Newcastle remain interested in the 24-year-old Morocco international and now have Roma, rather than Villa, as their principal rival; Betis are open to a sale but will not discount him, with Barcelona entitled to 20% of any profit.
This page is kept as part of our public track record — every rumor's final outcome stays published against the likelihood we gave it.
How the Story Moved
| Date | What changed | |
|---|---|---|
| July 18th | Tracked | Rumor opened on the board at 11% (linked) — source: TEAMtalk (Fraser Fletcher, exclusive). TEAMtalk reported on July 13th that the Morocco winger has appointed Footfeel ISM as his new agency, a move read as positioning for a step up, with Villa and Newcastle both said to have him on their radar. Neither club has made direct contact with Betis, who are relaxed for now but expect formal approaches before the window shuts. Betis are understood to want around €40m; Ezzalzouli is contracted until 2029. |
| July 25th | Moved | Likelihood fell from 11% to 6% (cooling). Villa have pulled back from the Real Betis winger. Sport Witness reported on July 22nd that the club have no intention of triggering the EUR 60m release clause in Ezzalzouli's contract, which runs to 2029, and are instead concentrating their attacking budget on Alejandro Garnacho, since completed. Newcastle remain interested and Villa's withdrawal removes their principal rival, though the Magpies are yet to lodge a formal offer. Betis are open to a sale but will not discount the 24-year-old Morocco international, with Barcelona entitled to 20% of any profit. |
| July 29th | Moved | Likelihood fell from 6% to 1% (off). Villa's pursuit of the Real Betis winger is over. Inside Futbol reported on July 29th that a move to Villa Park is now off the table for Ezzalzouli, the Garnacho deal having settled Emery's left-sided attacking vacancy and ended Villa's interest. That follows the July 22nd reporting that the club had no intention of triggering the €60m release clause in a contract running to 2029, choosing instead to put the attacking budget into Garnacho. Newcastle remain interested in the 24-year-old Morocco international and now have Roma, rather than Villa, as their principal rival; Betis are open to a sale but will not discount him, with Barcelona entitled to 20% of any profit. |
| August 1st | Verdict | Rumor died — dropped from the board at 1% |
Timeline reflects our tracking history since the rumor joined the board, not every media mention. For everything Villa, live: the Verdict homepage.