Evann Guessand to Trabzonspor
Verdict Delivered
This rumor DIED. It was dropped from the board after going quiet, last rated 6%.
| Move | Villa → Trabzonspor |
| Outcome | Never happened |
| Rated at the end | 6% |
| Resolved | August 10th |
Trabzonspor head coach Fatih Tekke is driving the move personally, the Turkish daily Takvim reported on July 27th via A Spor: Tekke is described as very keen to press ahead, having identified the Ivory Coast forward's versatility across the front line as the attraction, and the Black Sea club are expected to advance discussions with Villa in the coming days. Their route in is an initial loan with an option to buy, a permanent transfer being regarded as too expensive. That is the friction point: Villa, who paid a package worth up to EUR 35m to Nice in August 2025 and watched Crystal Palace decline their purchase option after a half-season loan, may prefer a permanent sale to a second temporary move. Trabzonspor turned to Guessand after Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare moved towards Ajax. Guessand's contract runs to 2030 and he is back at Bodymoor Heath with no clear route into Emery's front line, the arrival of Alejandro Garnacho and the pursuit of Nicolas Jackson pushing him further down the order; Villa are not expected to stand in his way if terms can be agreed. Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic added context from the player's side on August 1st, the day Guessand started as the No. 9 in the tour opener against the Indonesia All Stars: the plan, as Tanswell described it, had been for Guessand to go through pre-season and try to convince Unai Emery he was worth involving in some way this season, perhaps in a slightly different role. Tanswell left the outcome open.
Related
How the Story Moved
| Date | What changed | |
|---|---|---|
| July 26th | Tracked | Rumor opened on the board at 11% (linked) — source: Gunebakis (Turkey), via Inside Futbol. Trabzonspor have put Guessand high on their list of attacking targets, according to the Turkish outlet Gunebakis in reporting relayed on July 26th, which frames the interest around a forward who has not found the environment he was looking for in England. Guessand arrived from Nice in the summer of 2025 for a fee reported at up to EUR 35m and never settled at Villa Park, spending the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace. Palace held an option to make that move permanent and looked for a time like triggering it, but let it lapse, returning the Ivory Coast international to Villa with his future unresolved. There is no formal approach on record and Villa have not signalled a valuation or a willingness to sell. |
| July 26th | Moved | Likelihood rose from 11% to 22% (contact). Trabzonspor have put the Ivory Coast forward high on their attacking shortlist and are expected to approach Villa shortly, according to the Turkish outlet Gunebakis in reporting relayed on July 26th. The Black Sea club want a versatile attacker who can play off the right or through the middle but regard a permanent transfer as too expensive, so they intend to open talks over a loan. That is the friction point: Villa, who paid a package worth up to EUR 35m to Nice in August 2025 and watched Crystal Palace decline their purchase option after a half-season loan, may prefer a permanent sale to a second temporary move. Guessand's contract runs to 2030 and he is back at Bodymoor Heath with no clear route into Emery's front line; the report adds that he did not settle in English football and that Villa felt he fell short of expectations in his first season. |
| August 10th | Verdict | Rumor died — dropped from the board at 22% |
Timeline since the rumor joined the board.