New Delhi: Aston Villa have re-signed Jaden Philogene re-signed with Aston Villa after departing from the club for Hull City 12 months ago. Hull City scored 12 goals in the Championship last season. The 22-year-old had an impressive stint on Villa’s tour to the USA in the summer of 2023. It was this performance that made manager Unai Emery to bring back Philogene to Villa.
He has now signed a five-year contract with Villa, matching Ipswich Town’s £18m offer. Hull will receive about £13.5m of the fee. This is because Villa had a 30% sell-on clause in the agreement when they signed Philogene last September. Apart from Ipswitch, Barcelona were interested in signing Philogene as well. Still, he was interested in signing with the Tractor Boys, and it seemed like the former Cardiff City player would head to Portman Road. However, Villa were able to match the offer thanks to their contract, which saw Philogene join Hull.
Who is Jaden Philogene?
BRISTOL, ENGLAND – JULY 31: Jaden Philogene-Bidace of Aston Villa in action during the pre-season friendly between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on July 31, 2021 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Aston Villa Academy signed Philogene from the Pro:Direct program, which gave him an academy where he could focus on his game. He was soon considered one of the most exciting footballers the academy had ever produced. Philogene had been outstanding for the Aston Villa Under-23 squad and started gaining interest from Barcelona, Paris-Saint Germain, and Borrusia Dortmund.
After impressing everyone, including the senior team manager Dean Smith, in first-team training during the second half of the 2020-21 season, Philogene was handed his debut at the end of the campaign. In 2021, the winger signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa and debuted in May of that year when he came in as a late substitute in a 2-1 away victory against Tottenham Hotspur.
In January 2022, Philogene joined Championship club Stoke City as a loanee until the end of the 2021-22 season. Overall, Philogene made 11 appearances for Stoke and scored once in their 3-0 win over Swansea City. Philogene joined Cardiff City on loan in mid-2022 until the end of the 2022-23 season. Philogene made his Championship debut in their defeat against Reading as a late substitute. Philogene scored his first goal for Cardiff City against Aston Villa’s rivals, Birmingham City, in his side’s 1-0 victory. He went on to score a total of four goals for the club overall.
Before heading to Hull City, Philogene was also part of the Aston Villa team that went to play the club’s friendlies in the USA. After replacing Leon Bailey in Emery’s squad, he started well in their first friendly against Walsall in Bescot, when he won the penalty and got Villa back into the game. He constantly trounced Newcastle’s defence at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadephia and scored against Fulham in Orlando.
In September 2023, Philogne signed Hull City for an unknown fee after a lack of game time for Aston Villa games. On 15th September, Philogene debuted in a 1-1 home draw against Coventry City. In November of the same year, the Winger was named as the Player of the Month for October. His Hull City stint saw him score 12 times and make six assists from 32 games. Philogen’s equalising goal against Rotherham United during his club’s 2-1 win has made many experts describe the effort deserved the FIFA Puskas Award.
Why did Aston Villa choose Philogene?
Aston Villa is delighted to announce the signing of Jaden Philogene from Hull City. ✍️
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 19, 2024
The reason for choosing someone like Philogene in Aston Villa club will be his versatality. In Hull City, Liam Rosenior used him on the left wing. Emery, though, has used the Winger on the right side of the field in the pre-season last year. Aston Villa’s wings will benefit from the emergence of the talent and energy that Philogene would bring to the side. Plus, Philogene is capable of tracking back and putting his boot in. This gave him a remarkable defensive stat, given that he was a winger last season.
Last season, only two Championship players averaged more efforts on goal (3.69) last season than Philogene. Aston Villa would like to have a standout Championship performer, given that they finished in the top four in the Premier League, which qualifies him directly for the next season of the Champions League.
A return to Villa will be a significant step in Philogene’s career. His first task, of course, will be breaking into the XI. He could be as devastating once he is off the bench, and his season could look like Bailey’s first months of the previous term.
Jaden Philogene returns to Aston Villa a year after moving from the club to the Hull City. What made Unai Emery choose the winger. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
