Aston Villa confirm £18m signing on five-year contract
- Jaden Philogene completes return to Aston Villa
- Winger had been linked with sensational switch to Barcelona
- Ipswich & Everton both saw bids accepted for 22-year-old
By Tom Gott
![Jaden Philogene is back at Aston Villa Jaden Philogene is back at Aston Villa](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5046,h_2838,x_21,y_108/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/90min_en_international_web/01j351gz8txkajpcsjyv.jpg)
Aston Villa have completed the signing of winger Jaden Philogene from Hull City.
Everton and Ipswich Town both had £18m bids accepted for the exciting 22-year-old, who was even sensationally linked to Barcelona, but Villa swooped in to trigger the buy-back clause they inserted in their deal to sell Philogene last summer.
Villa also had a 30% sell-on clause with Hull, which reports suggest takes the total cost of this deal down to £13.5m.
Philogene becomes the second player to return to Villa this summer, following on from Cameron Archer, and is the seventh new face in Unai Emery's squad as they prepare for life in the Champions League next season.
Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Ross Barkley and Enzo Barrenechea have all joined Villa this summer, while Everton midfielder Amadou Onana is on the cusp of sealing his own switch to Villa Park.
How will Philogene fit in at Aston Villa?
ANALYSIS
Philogene's potential has been clear since his days in the Villa academy but, after a decent loan spell with Cardiff City, he needed a permanent move to Hull last summer to really make an impact on senior football.
He wasted little time in establishing himself as one of the Championship's most dangerous forwards, showcasing some outrageous dribbling skills to go alongside the natural flair that he demonstrated with an unbelievable goal against Rotherham in February 2024 that you really need to watch if you haven't already.
Villa need more strength in depth as they prepare for their Champions League voyage, but Philogene will hope to be far more than just a threat off the bench. Moussa Diaby is keen to leave for Saudi Arabia and his exit could open up a spot in the starting lineup for Philogene.
Leon Bailey is a clear starter and there will also be some serious competition for minutes from 21-year-old Morgan Rogers. All three are natural left wingers but Philogene is comfortable on the right and may have to swap over to that side for a chance to impress in this team.
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