Aston Villa sign three-time Champions League winner on loan

Aston Villa have secured the loan signing of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Marco Asensio for the remainder of the season.

It comes towards the end of a busy January transfer window for Villa, having recruited Marcus Rashford, Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia, as well as offloading Diego Carlos and cashing in on Jhon Duran.

Rashford commented on Villa's ambition as a motivating factor for his move from Manchester United, and bringing in a three-time Champions League winner in Asensio speaks to that as well.

The 29-year-old Spaniard was considered Real Madrid's great hope earlier in his career and ultimately went on to play 286 times for the club, before a 2023 free transfer to PSG. Asensio struggled with injury during his debut campaign with France and, despite establishing himself as a centre-forward option in the early stages of this season, had fallen out of favour from December onwards.

Villa sit eighth in the Premier League table, but within touching distance - four points - of the top four as they look to secure Champions League qualification for the second year in a row. Unai Emery’s side are also into the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition for this season and are banking on January recruitment to give them the best chance to keep progressing.

UEFA got rid of cup-tied rules in 2018, meaning Asensio will be able to play a part in the next part of Villa's Champions League journey, even after already representing PSG in Europe this season.

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