Aston Villa dealt transfer blow as defender seals 'perfect' move

Aston Villa have been dealt a potential blow after rumoured transfer target Matthias Ginter completed a move to Freiburg.

Villa had been linked with a possible deal for the Germany international this summer when he became a free agent at the end of his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach. However, the 28-year-old defender has chosen to return to his former side Freiburg.

Ginter was asked directly if he had held talks over a move to Villa last month but did not give much away. "I would like to hold back on specific clubs or domestic and foreign issues for the time being," he told German publication Sport1 . "But, of course, you talk to different people and you have a few things that are important to you. Then you will see everything else."

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Ginter is set to re-join Freiburg at an exciting time with the club currently occupying a Champions League qualifying spot in the Bundesliga with two games remaining.

It is interesting that Villa were linked with another central defender, given that Gerrard signed Calum Chambers in January. Chambers started alongside club captain Tyrone Mings against Norwich on Saturday. Ezri Konsa remained on the bench, while the club also has Kortney Hause in their ranks.

However, Ginter described his move as a “perfect fit” after it was confirmed by Freiburg on Wednesday afternoon.

“I wanted to do something special in my career, and there’s nothing more meaningful to me than a return to SC and to my home,” he told the club website .

“The development the club has undergone, as well as the potential in the team and the discussions with the club over the last weeks have been great. To find something like