Gabby Agbonlahor has expressed his delight as Unai Emery’s Aston Villa secured a deal for Arsenal target Youri Tielemans.
Aston Villa announced on Saturday, via their official Twitter account, that Youri Tielemans has joined the Midlands outfit on a free-transfer following his relegation to the Championship with Leicester City.
Despite that big red marker on his CV, Agbonlahor stated on Twitter that was a ‘one-off’ and Villa now have a ‘big player’ on their hands, he wrote: ‘Big player joining a big club! Tielemans last season was a one-off’.
It was suggested that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were looking at signing the high-class midfield operator, but whilst the Gunners have other things on their mind, such as trying to get a deal done for Declan Rice, Villa have pounced and secured their first signing of the 2023 summer transfer window.
If the Tielemans of old shows up at Villa Park next season, the one that helped the Foxes win the FA Cup and constantly get into Europe, then this is a very good deal.
But if the 26-year-old that has been declining during the past 12 months dons those Claret & Blue colours, then he better start warming the bench because he won’t last long.
Villa nab another free transfer after Kamara deal last summer
For the second summer running, Villa have managed to secure the free transfer of a midfielder that would normally cost around, at least, the £40 million mark in the transfer market.
It was Boubacar Kamara last summer, after he left Marseille, and now it’s Tielemans.
It will be interesting to see how Villa’s new boy fits into Emery’s system because, since his arrival, a number of star names have shone brightly, especially in the middle of the park.
Douglas Luiz was Villa’s Players and Supporters Player of the Season, whilst John McGinn has played his best football under the Spaniard, Kamara is a Rolls-Royce of a defensive midfielder and Jacob Ramsey is edging closer to earning that senior England call.
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