Mateta Transfer Request Sparks Bidding War Between Aston Villa And Juventus

Crystal Palace’s January transfer window has been anything but quiet, with the club’s leading striker Jean-Philippe Mateta at the center of mounting speculation and swirling negotiations. As of January 21, 2026, multiple sources confirm that the French forward has formally requested to leave Selhurst Park, setting off a flurry of interest from both Premier League rivals and European heavyweights. With Aston Villa and Juventus emerging as the most persistent suitors, the saga is shaping up to be one of the window’s most closely watched stories.

Mateta, 28, has been a mainstay for Palace since his arrival from Mainz in January 2021—a deal initially structured as a loan worth around £15 million. Over the years, he’s cemented his status as one of the Premier League’s most reliable No. 9s, tallying an impressive 56 goals in 185 appearances for the Eagles. His contributions were instrumental in Palace’s historic FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs at Wembley in 2025, and his league scoring record has only been bettered by the likes of Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah since Oliver Glasner took the managerial reins in February 2024.

Yet, despite his on-field heroics, Mateta’s future at Palace has grown increasingly uncertain. According to Sky Sports UK and Gazzetta, the striker made his intentions clear to the club this month, seeking a move that would allow him to compete at the highest level—ideally in the Champions League—and bolster his chances of representing France at the upcoming World Cup. "Mateta has 18 months left on his contract and just because he wants to leave Crystal Palace, it doesn't mean they are going to sell him. There is no way whatsoever they will let him leave on the cheap," Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol explained, underscoring the club’s firm stance on valuation.

Palace’s resolve has been evident in negotiations. The club has set a price tag of €40 million (approximately £35-40 million), a figure that has thus far deterred Juventus, who reportedly tabled an initial loan offer with a performance-related obligation to buy, totaling €33 million. That proposal was promptly rejected. The Bianconeri, wary of the high agent fees and Mateta’s age—he turns 29 in June—have since shifted some attention to Fenerbahce’s Youssef En-Nesyri as an alternative.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have emerged as the frontrunners, with manager Unai Emery eager to reinforce his attacking options. Villa’s interest in Mateta is longstanding, but they are also weighing up a move for ex-Roma striker Tammy Abraham, currently on loan at Besiktas. There’s even talk of a potential swap deal involving Villa’s Evann Guessand, though the Frenchman has yet to make a significant impact in the Premier League since his move from Nantes. As of now, no breakthrough has been reached, and Palace’s valuation remains a sticking point for all parties.

Mateta’s desire to leave is not a sudden development. Reports indicate that he has been open to a move since last summer, when several clubs—both domestic and continental—expressed interest. Tottenham made a late inquiry before ultimately securing Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Italian sides Atalanta and AC Milan also monitored Mateta, but no deal materialized. Despite these overtures, Palace’s executive chairman Steve Parish has maintained a tough negotiating posture, refusing to let key assets depart below market value.

The timing of Mateta’s transfer request couldn’t be more challenging for Palace. The club is in the midst of a turbulent period, having already parted ways with captain Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City for £20 million earlier in January. Head coach Oliver Glasner, who guided Palace to silverware last season, has announced he will leave at the end of the current campaign. The Eagles are winless in their last ten matches across all competitions, were stunned by non-league Macclesfield in the FA Cup, and are battling a raft of injuries to key players including Daniel Munoz and Daichi Kamada. Ismaila Sarr, another key forward, has missed nine games while on international duty with Senegal.

Despite the adversity, Mateta has remained a constant presence on the pitch. He’s started all 22 of Palace’s Premier League games this season, notching eight goals, and has added two more in cup competitions. Last season, he scored 17 times in 47 matches as Palace lifted the FA Cup and secured their first taste of European football. His recent call-up to the French national team—where he’s scored twice in three appearances—has only heightened his ambitions. According to sources close to the player, Mateta is "disappointed with the club's attitude because it has not kept its promises in terms of a new contract, recruitment and ambition, with the forward keen on a new challenge."

Palace’s response, according to manager Glasner, is pragmatic but resolute: "There will be a price that Crystal Palace [accept], with 18 months left on his contract. We'd do the deal, if JP wants. If nobody pays that price, then he will stay." The club is not actively seeking to sell Mateta, but with the transfer window closing on February 2, they are bracing for further bids. In the meantime, Palace have reinvested some of the proceeds from recent sales into the squad, notably with the club-record signing of Brennan Johnson from Tottenham earlier this month.

For supporters, the prospect of losing another pillar of the team so soon after the departures of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and soon Glasner, is a bitter pill to swallow. The club’s first major season in European competition has been overshadowed by off-field instability, and the coming weeks will be pivotal in shaping the trajectory of the remainder of Palace’s campaign. With crucial Premier League fixtures and a Conference League adventure ahead, the Eagles’ ability to navigate this period of transition will be under the microscope.

As the January window edges toward its close, all eyes remain on Selhurst Park. Will Palace and Mateta part ways, or will the French striker see out the season in south London? One thing is certain: the transfer drama is far from over, and the next move could define both the player’s and the club’s fortunes for seasons to come.