Aston Villa confirm Alysson signing – who he is and why Villa moved fast
Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Alysson from Grêmio, bringing one of Brazil’s most talked-about teenage wide players to the Premier League. Reported as a €10m transfer, the deal fits Villa’s recent pattern of targeting elite-upside talent early – before the market becomes a bidding war.
Alysson Edward Franco da Rocha, born 05.05.2006, is a left-footed winger most often used on the right, valued for his speed, direct dribbling and ability to attack space in transition.
He came through Grêmio’s youth system and was fast-tracked toward senior football after strong youth-level production, before becoming a regular presence around the first team in Brazil’s top flight. While still a developmental signing rather than an instant guaranteed starter, his profile matches what Premier League clubs increasingly want from young wide players – explosiveness, 1v1 threat, and the athletic base to adapt physically.
The agency behind the move – AGN Football’s role and network
Alysson is represented by AGN Football, a Porto Alegre–based agency led by Augusto Nogueira and Matheus Assaf. AGN positions itself around full-career management, supporting players on and off the pitch while building long-term club relationships to create the right sporting and financial step at the right time.
Nogueira is credited with helping launch careers of Alexandre Pato, Luiz Adriano and Emerson da Rosa.
Nogueira is known in Brazilian football circles as an experienced operator involved in high-profile career pathways, while Assaf’s background blends management education with former playing experience – a combination aimed at modern player development and international placement.
AGN Football’s “conviction” story – from a 13-year-old to the Premier League
Alysson is represented by AGN Football, and the agency used the announcement to share a scouting origin story built around one word: conviction. AGN revealed they first heard about Alysson when scout Filipe Mello called from Alegrete while watching the EFIPAN youth tournament, describing “a 13-year-old at Grêmio with a Premier League profile.” AGN said they initially urged patience, assuming it might be first-tournament excitement – until Mello cut through it with a line the agency framed as decisive: “I don’t need to watch anything else. I have conviction.”
AGN added that Mello “could already see clearly what still wasn’t obvious to everyone,” and summed up the journey in a quote designed for headlines: “Some stories don’t start with statistics, analysis or reports. They start with conviction. The rest is work and time.” Six years later, they concluded, “that conviction became reality” – and welcomed Alysson’s next step with a simple message: “Welcome to the Premier League.”
In the same statement, AGN confirmed the transfer and thanked Aston Villa’s leadership and coaching structure for how the deal was handled: “We’re delighted to announce that Alysson has signed with Aston Villa on a permanent transfer from Grêmio.” They added: “We would like to thank everyone at Aston Villa – especially Damián Vidagany, Roberto Olabe, Alberto Benito, Unai Emery and his coaching staff – for the trust and professionalism throughout the process.”
AGN also praised Grêmio’s hierarchy and staff for their cooperation, and gave a “special thank you” to Alysson’s family “for years of trust,” while also acknowledging partners at Elenko Sports. The closing line tied the whole arc together: “Good luck with the Villans, Alysson. Conviction turned into a plan. The plan turned into reality.”
The agency was aso behind Quintero's twins move to Arsenal.
