Credit: Tung Manh Phan/Breaking Media

Cameron Smith

Tue 31 March 2026 12:30, UK

Aston Villa‘s reported interest in Waldemar Anton could point in the direction of a defensive reshuffle at Villa Park.

It was reported on Monday that the Villans are among a handful of clubs interested in the Borussia Dortmund defender, with Manchester United and Atletico Madrid also mentioned.

The 29-year-old joined the club from VfB Stuttgart in the summer of 2024, and has continued to grow in importance throughout his time at the Westfalenstadion, after a far from ideal debut year at the club.

Becoming a regular squad member of the German national team during his final year at Stuttgart, Anton will be in search of guaranteed game time if he were to depart this summer.

With this in mind, it could point to a potential defensive reshuffle at Villa Park.

Waldemar Anton would want the guarantee of games

Sky Sport Germany credit Villa with an interest in Anton.

At 29, the defender is in the prime years of his career, and would not want to squander this with a move elsewhere that does not guarantee minutes on the pitch.

Joining Stuttgart from Hannover in 2020, Anton successfully guided Die Schwaben to safety on multiple occasions, and was named club captain in 2023 following Wataru Endo’s move to Liverpool.

After multiple years fighting at the wrong end of the Bundesliga, Anton would form one half of a fantastic centre-back partnership with Anthony Rouault, as Stuttgart finished second in the Bundesliga behind unbeaten champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Leaving the club at the end of that season, he would join rivals Borussia Dortmund, somewhat controversially, given the fact that Stuttgart were looking to re-establish themselves as a top Bundesliga contender fully.

Though given the fact that he is now a regular for Die Schwarzgelben, he will not be looking to make a move elsewhere if there is no guarantee of minutes – making a reshuffle likely if he were to be of serious interest.

Waldemar Anton would provide top-level experience for Aston Villa

It was a tough year for both Borussia Dortmund and Anton last term, with the defender starting just 22 out of 34 league matches.

However, he did play a big part in the late resurgence under Niko Kovac, with BVB rising from the mid-table regions of the division to eventual Champions League qualification on the final day.

This time around, he has been a mainstay at the back – starting every single match he has been available for, resulting in 37 starts across all competitions, with two matches missed through injury.

Now a key man at the heart of the defence, a move away would be incredibly unlikely, unless there were to be the temptation of guaranteed football.

Villa as a club are looking to make the next step and progress towards becoming a trophy contender in England – the top-level experience possessed by the likes of Anton would not be the worst step in helping them get there.

Anton is not the only Black-Yellows player linked with a move to the Midlands this summer, either, with Julian Brandt also earmarked as a target.

Both of these point in one direction: Unai Emery looking to add experience and know-how to his already promising side.