Tyrone Mings’ frightening stats vindicating Aston Villa’s £26.5m spend

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Some eyebrows may have been raised when Aston Villa reportedly spent £26.5 million on Tyrone Mings this summer.

Despite his arrival proving to be a real turning point in Aston Villa’s season last term, some eyebrows were raised when it was reported that the Villans had spent £26.5 million to sign Tyrone Mings permanently during the summer (fee reported by the Guardian).

Mings had been outstanding for Villa in the Championship, but things did not work out for the 26-year-old at the Vitality Stadium so he had yet to really prove himself at the highest level.

While no-one doubted that Dean Smith’s side would benefit from having Mings in the ranks, there may have been questions regarding whether he would live up to a £26.5 million fee having previously been signed on loan when Villa looked to have almost no chance of making the play-offs that would eventually provide their ticket to the Premier League.

But three games into the new season, it does appear that Mings is well on his way to vindicating the Villans’ decision to spend that money. Smith’s men may have only picked up three points from three games, but Mings has already produced some frightening statistics.

Whoscored.com shows that Mings has made 32 clearances this term. Meanwhile, Norwich City defender Ben Godfrey has been the second-most prolific clearance-maker having cleared his lines 21 times. No other player in the Premier League has made more than 19 clearances.

And it is also Mings at the top of the charts when it comes to blocking shots, having blocked seven attempts. It is Villa teammate Bjorn Engels who sits second on the list, with six to his name.

Mings still has a lot to do to prove that Villa were right to pay Bournemouth such a significant sum. But the early signs are unquestionably positive.

Mings’ arrival at Villa proved to be the catalyst for the outstanding run of form that got them promoted last season. He is the kind of player who can inspire those around him with a full-blooded block or perfectly-timed challenge, and in this form, it is difficult to imagine too many Premier League strikers getting the better of the summer signing over the course of the campaign.