Aston Villa Reject £18m Everton Bid for Captain McGinn

Aston Villa has firmly rejected an £18 million offer from Everton for their captain, 30-year-old Scotland midfielder John McGinn, who remains under contract until 2027. Despite interest from Newcastle United, no formal approach has been made, and Villa manager Unai Emery has expressed a clear desire to retain McGinn, a key figure in the squad who made 49 appearances last season, contributing four goals and six assists. Everton manager David Moyes has prioritized McGinn as a summer transfer target, emphasizing his leadership and versatility, but Villa's stance is resolute amid ongoing contract considerations for other core squad members. McGinn, who joined Villa from Hibernian in 2018, has played over 300 games for the club and helped them win promotion to the Premier League, with his former clubs Hibernian and St Mirren set to benefit financially from any future transfer due to sell-on clauses. In addition to McGinn's contract security, Villa has secured left-back Lucas Digne on a new deal until 2028, signaling a focus on squad stability ahead of the new Premier League season.