Aston Villa announce signing of Nicolo Zaniolo to bolster squad ahead of European return... as Midlands club suffer two injury blows to Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings

Aston Villa have signed Italy midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo on a loan deal from Galatasaray.

The 24-year-old becomes the Premier League club's fourth first-team signing of the summer.

Zaniolo, who has won 13 caps for his country, completed a medical at the Premier League club on Thursday before completing the finer details of the transfer on Friday.

The Birmingham club took to X, formerly Twitter, to announce their latest signing of the summer.

The deal reportedly involves an option for Villa to make the move permanent.

Zaniolo spent five years with Roma in his home country and scored the winning goal in their Europa Conference League final success in 2022.

The 24-year-old informed the Serie A giants that he did not plan to see out his contract with the club until 2024. He left for Galatasaray in February and helped the club win the Turkish league title.

He announced his departure from the Turkish side in a heartfelt Instagram post in which he penned: 'I'm grateful to have been a part of this beautiful family,'

The post continued: 'Together we have proven that when you are united, nothing is impossible. Lions family you are now a part of my heart and I promise I'll never forget that,'

The midfielder who has 13 caps for Italy, joins Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby as new faces in Unai Emery's squad.

Zaniolo refused to meet with Bournemouth representatives after the Cherries agreed a deal to sign him earlier this year.

The Italian chose a move to Galatasaray instead, netting five goals in 19 games for the Turkish Super Lig side.

Newly-appointed sporting director Monchi at Villa signed Zaniolo for Roma in 2018 during his time in the Italian capital, and has used his book of contacts to boost Emery's squad.

The Midlands club