Aston Villa’s backup goalkeeper Robin Olsen has yet to make an appearance this season, featuring in only two matchday squads so far. With Emiliano Martínez firmly established as Unai Emery’s first-choice keeper and Joe Gauci stepping in as backup, Olsen has slipped further down the ranks at Villa Park.
According to Expressen, Swedish side Malmö FF are keen on bringing Olsen back to the club and are considering a move for him in the upcoming winter transfer window. Initial talks have reportedly taken place with Aston Villa, who are open to letting the Swedish international leave in January. Olsen’s contract with Villa has less than a year remaining, putting him in a position to evaluate his future with an eye toward more regular playing time.
Sportbladet offers further insight into Olsen’s situation, noting that despite limited opportunities at Villa, the 34-year-old intends to stay with the Premier League club until his contract expires at the end of the season.
Olsen’s history with Malmö adds intrigue to the potential transfer; he previously spent two stints with the Swedish club, with his most recent spell from 2012 to 2015 marking him as a familiar figure for the team and its supporters.
Malmö reportedly views a potential reunion with Olsen as a realistic option for next summer once his Villa contract ends. The club plans to rely on Johan Dahlin as their primary goalkeeper until mid-2025, after which they would introduce Olsen into a competitive rotation for the starting spot.
This strategy allows Malmö to have an experienced option in Olsen ready to step in once Dahlin’s tenure as first-choice keeper concludes.
With both Aston Villa and Olsen open to a future change, a return to Malmö could offer the veteran goalkeeper a final chapter in his career, where he would be back with a club he knows well and in a league where he has previously thrived. For now, however, Olsen’s “plan” remains focused on completing his contract with Villa before making any final decisions on his next step.