Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Jaden Philogene from Hull City, as the talented youngster returns after a year away from the club.
The 22-year-old came through the Villa youth ranks and impressed out on loan in recent years, before making a positive impression on Unai Emery during our pre-season schedule last summer.
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That in turn seemed to suggest that he could be involved with the first-team squad and was set to be a part of the Spanish tactician’s plans, but ultimately the decision was made to approve an exit to join Hull a year ago.
Philogene impressed again as he bagged 12 goals and six assists in 32 appearances for the Championship outfit last season, and that appears to have convinced Villa to now bring him back and integrate him into the senior squad.
As per the club’s official statement, Philogene has now returned to Villa, and he’ll no doubt be itching to join back up with the rest of the group as we continue our preparations for the new Premier League campaign.
It’s reported by the Express and Star’s Matt Maher that Villa are paying around £13m to re-sign him, while the Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell reports that the talented winger will put pen to paper on a five-year contract as he commits his long-term future to the club. He adds that Villa had matching rights to bring him back in the event of a rival bid, while a sell-on clause reduced the fee that we will pay Hull.
Time will tell just how involved Philogene will be, but Emery evidently believes that he’s now ready to be part of his plans and is capable of making an important contribution when needed, otherwise Villa wouldn’t have triggered the clause which allowed them to re-sign him.
Philogene will likely add competition and depth in the final third given his ability and versatility to play across the frontline behind a striker, but with the likes of Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia ahead of him in the expected pecking order, he’ll have to work hard and take his opportunities when they come his way.
That said, with Villa looking to compete across four competitions again this season with domestic trophies a real objective to end our wait for silverware, it’s hoped that Philogene gets chances to impress and make his mark and can showcase his talent with us to make the decision to bring him back look a brilliant one.
He becomes our seventh signing of the summer after Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Enzo Barrenechea, Ross Barkley and the returning Cameron Archer, and the expectation is that Villa are still far from done in this transfer window.
