Aston Villa have confirmed that goalkeeper James Wright has joined Real Union on loan for the season in a sensible move for all concerned.
The 19-year-old joined the club in 2021 and has been a mainstay at youth level for us as he has continued to impress.
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With a reshuffle in the goalkeeper ranks again this summer, he spent valuable time with Unai Emery and the senior squad over our pre-season schedule, and he’ll now get the opportunity to build on that experience.
As per the club’s official statement, Wright has joined Real Union on loan, and so it’s hoped that he’s able to gain valuable playing time to continue to improve and develop his all-round game.
It also represents the continuation of a smart utilisation of our partnership with the Spanish outfit, giving our talented young players an opportunity to play, and hopefully continue to adapt and improve in the way that Emery needs to see if they are to go on and make an impact at senior level for us.
Time will tell what follows for Wright, as ultimately we’re seeing a very clear strategy from the club when it comes to our youngsters, as we look to sell when a good opportunity arises to help balance our books and fund our own spending.
However, although Emiliano Martinez is set in stone as our first-choice shot-stopper, Joe Gauci will look to secure his place as his primary back-up option this season, while Robin Olsen has just one year remaining on his current Villa contract.
That arguably then opens the door for our talented young goalkeepers to stake a claim to be third choice beyond this season, and so that makes this experience for Wright all the more important for his ambitions of making a breakthrough at Villa in the future.
Wright becomes the latest of a number of players to leave on loan this summer, with Filip Marschall, Lewis Dobbin, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tommi O’Reilly, Louie Barry, Josh Feeney and Lino Sousa all moving on temporarily this season with the aim of continuing their development and impressing Emery.