Roberto Olabe’s top three deals as Aston Villa close in on transfer guru – Arsenal and Liverpool stars in the mix
Aston Villa are finalising the appointment of Roberto Olabe, having reached an agreement for the Spaniard to become the club’s new president of football.
This comes just hours after the news that Monchi is set to leave Aston Villa after being at the club since 2023.
It all seems to be happening at B6 right now, with Unai Emery’s Villa future now in doubt.
What has been a joyful past couple of years at Villa Park, one era seems like it might be coming to an end, with Villa fans concerned over the club’s position.
But as the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens, and Olabe looks set to reunite with Emery. Let’s take a look at the former Real Sociedad director’s previous scouting revelations.
Alexander Isak
Olabe spotted Alexander Isak back when he played for Borussia Dortmund and brought him to Sociedad for an estimated figure of around £15million.
This transfer speaks for itself. Then, a young, raw striker, Isak had bags of potential but never really fully showcased it until he arrived in Spain.
- Isak scored 44 times for Real Sociedad across three full seasons
- He then went on to become a prolific goalscorer in the Premier League for Newcastle
- Scored last season in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool
Olabe was key to bringing Isak to his former club, who then went on to make a hefty profit when he was sold to Newcastle for a club-record fee of around £65m.
Mikel Merino
Olabe was at the heart of a bold move to bring Mikel Merino to Real Sociedad in 2018, signing him from Newcastle United for a reported fee of around £12m.
It was a calculated gamble on a player who had struggled for consistency in England, but under Sociedad’s system, Merino quickly flourished.
The Spanish midfielder became a key figure in the team’s rise to European contention and in 2025, earned a high-profile move to Arsenal – delivering both on the pitch and financially.
With Villa under strict PSR restrictions, it would be no surprise to see Olabe try to unearth another cheap gem for Villa like he did here with Merino.
Takefusa Kubo
Olabe played a key role in securing Takefusa Kubo’s move to Real Sociedad in 2022, negotiating a deal with Real Madrid that included a relatively modest fee and a sell-on clause.
Kubo arrived with a reputation as a talented but unproven youngster, but over time, he developed into one of La Liga’s most creative and dynamic attackers.
| Starts | Goals | Assists | Average Rating |
| 29 | 9 | 4 | 7.03 |
His performances have not only boosted the team’s attacking threat but also increased his market value significantly.
Aston Villa could desperately do with someone of his quality out wide right now.
These three signings show that Villa may be getting the better end of the stick, especially for the situation they’re in right now. Olabe is skilled at working under tight budgets and clearly has an eye for world-class talent.
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