Aston Villa are close to re-signing winger Jaden Philogene from Hull City, having matched his £18m buy-back clause.
The England under-21 international had only left Aston Villa for Hull City last year. He was arguably the standout performer for Hull City in the Championship this past campaign, bagging 12 goals and six assists in 32 appearances.
His performances caught the eye of La Liga giants Barcelona and they were in the driving seat for the 22-year-old’s signature for a long time. However, the Catalan club soon ended their interest in Jaden Philogene after failing to agree on a loan-to-buy deal with Hull City.
Newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town entered the race and had their offer accepted by the Tigers, but Aston Villa matched his release clause and Philogene looks to have chosen to return to Villa Park to continue his career.
The England youth international is reportedly set for a medical at Bodymoor Heath over the weekend, with Villa deciding to pay around £13m after triggering matching rights + 30% sell-on clause in a deal with the Tigers. He is expected to pen a five-year deal with the Villans.
Aston Villa continue to bolster their squad upon Champions League return
Aston Villa are preparing to return to Champions League football after an excellent 2023/24 season. They have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window, with the club deciding to back head coach Unai Emery by allowing him the opportunity to bring in new players at the club.
The Midlands outfit have not always targeted big names in the transfer market. They have identified young English talents and groomed them after bringing them to Villa Park. Jaden Philogene’s potential arrival would be another classic case. The player has decided to return back to Villa after holding extensive conversations with Unai Emery about his role in the 2024/25 season.
The 22-year-old can be a solid addition to Villa’s attacking ranks, offering them quality in wide areas as well as depth to the squad. He was in rollicking form for Hull City in the Championship last season and will hope to hit the ground running with Villa in the Premier League. Given how Philogene performed in the Championship, he is deserving of a move back to the top flight.
With Moussa Diaby heading to the Saudi Pro League after a season at Villa Park, Philogene will have the chance to replace the Frenchman in Emery’s first XI and set the Premier League on fire with his speed, intensity, directness and flair.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
