Aston Villa’s Summer Moves: Champions League Signings For 2024/25

Aston Villa FC have undertaken a significant recruitment rebuild this summer, strategically focusing on data analysis and statistics to strengthen their squad for the upcoming 2024/25 EPL season.

With a clear ambition to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League, the club has leveraged a comprehensive approach to data, ensuring that each new signing aligns with their tactical vision and performance objectives.

This Aston Villa recruitment analysis provides some tactical analysis of how Aston Villas data-driven transfer strategy positions them as strong contenders in the league, highlighting their calculated moves in the transfer market.

Aston Villa Potential Issues For 2023/24 Premier League

One of the most significant challenges Aston Villa faced during the 2023/24 Premier League season was a relentless injury crisis that severely impacted their campaign.

However, they still managed to fight out a fourth-place finish due to Unai Emerys coaching.

Aston Villa faced 39 injuries during the EPL season, putting them fifth on the list for the most amount of injuries during the EPL season.

Key players were sidelined for extended periods, disrupting the team’s rhythm and forcing the manager to constantly shuffle the lineup.

Villa struggled to maintain consistency, particularly during the crucial stages of the season, exposing the lack of squad depth.

Injuries to pivotal players in both defence and attack left the team vulnerable, leading to dropped points in matches where they were otherwise competitive.

This ongoing injury turmoil not only affected Villa’s on-field performances but also highlighted the need for a more robust and resilient squad, a factor that has heavily influenced their recruitment strategy in the current transfer window.

Aston Villa Vision For 2024/25 EPL Season

For the upcoming 2024/25 season, Aston Villa has set a clear vision to address the issues that plagued their previous campaign.

Recognising the lack of squad depth that left them vulnerable during their injury crisis, the club has prioritised adding physicality and versatility to their roster.

A key aspect of this strategy involves recruiting players who can operate effectively as wingers while also being capable of dropping back to fulfil roles as wing-backs or full-backs when necessary.

This dual-role ability is seen as essential not only for providing cover in the event of injuries but also for offering tactical flexibility during matches.

Hence the signings of Samuel Iling-Junior (€14m from Juventus), Jaden Philogene (€16m from Hull City), and Ian Maatsen (€44.5m from Chelsea), who can all play across every width position, either as full-backs or wingers, with Iling-Junior and Philogene primarily being wingers, and Maatsen serving as the versatile full-back.

As for their midfield recruitment strategy, the club aimed to add depth and physicality to their midfield after the loss of Douglas Luiz (€51.5m to Juventus), who was the heart of their midfield.

Aston Villa signed a young talent who can play as a number 6 in Enzo Barrenechea (€8m from Juventus) and added physicality and height with the acquisitions of Amadou Onana (€59.35m from Everton) and Ross Barkley (€5.9m from Luton Town).

By bolstering these areas, Villa aims to ensure that they have the depth and adaptability required to compete at the top level throughout the season, all while maintaining their attacking threat from wide positions.

Aston Villa Transfers  OUT

This transfer window had Aston Villa losing two very important players, but with the addition to the big price tags with them, Aston Villa were able to buy multiple players to replace each position.

Aston Villas net spend after purchasing Jaden Philogene, Ian Maatsen, and Samuel Iling-Junior and selling Moussa Diaby is negative €14.5m, which is great business when you are getting three players on the width for the sale of one player.

Aston Villas net spend after selling Douglas Luiz and purchasing Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana, and Enzo Barrenechea is €21.75m.

Aston Villa Transfers  IN

Aston Villa made several key signings to reinforce their squad after significant departures.

Ross Barkley (€5.9m) and Amadou Onana (€59.35m) were added to strengthen the midfield with physicality and experience.

Samuel Iling-Junior (€14m) and Jaden Philogene (€16m) bring versatility on the wings, capable of playing both in attack and as wing-backs.

Ian Maatsen (€44.5m) offers flexibility as a full-back, and Enzo Barrenechea (€8m) provides depth in the defensive midfield role.

These additions are designed to address key areas and enhance the teams overall depth.

Aston Villa New Signings 2024/25

Jaden Philogene Scouting Report

Jaden Philogene has a unique profile.

He is a two-footed winger who loves to play with his opponent, a 1v1 duelist, and a chaos-causer.

During his time at Hull City, he scored 12 goals and six assists in 32 matches and played 2806 minutes.

Jaden Philogene belongs to the same archetype of wingers as Rafa Leão, which is characterised by physical frames built for attacking space and technical traits that allow them to excel in tight areas.

Below is the player radar chart, showing he ranks very highly in key winger attributes: 96th percentile for shots per 90, 93rd percentile for dribbles per 90, and 84th percentile for touches in the opponents penalty box.

He ranks lower in the passing categories, such as the 65th percentile for progressive passes, 44th percentile for dangerous passes, 60th percentile for accurate pass rate, and 53rd percentile for overall passes per 90.

Samuel Iling-Junior Scouting Report

Samuel Iling-Junior is a versatile left-sided player capable of operating as both a full-back and a winger.

At Juventus, he recorded 1 goal and two assists in 810 minutes, showcasing his attacking potential from deeper positions.

His pace, acceleration, and athleticism make