Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said £18m summer signing Jaden Philogene could go out on loan as the winger’s “adjustment is going slower than we wanted”.
Villans academy product Philogene returned to the club on a five-year deal in July after impressing during the season at Hull City, who signed him for an undisclosed fee in September 2023.
The 22-year-old has not started a Premier League game for nearly three months and has not featured in Villa’s last four games.
🗣️ Unai: “We start the new year focused on our game against Leicester, starting at home at Villa Park. We had a very good year, but we are trying to separate last season, last season and this season.” pic.twitter.com/1zHjrQ9iSz
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
Philogene: Villa “believes in potential”
“He didn’t show his potential in the first six months with us, due to different circumstances,” said Emery, via Birmingham live.
“He played some important games [by starting] against Bayern Munich [in the Champions League on October 2] and Manchester United [in the league four days later].
“At that moment he [had the] a chance to show his progress. He didn’t do it clearly and [he has been] he plays less, but I believe in his potential.”
The boss on 2025: “It’s a challenge and our challenge is also to try to improve, increase our level, requirements and standards in everything.” pic.twitter.com/5jwUAgT1kU
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
Phylogene transfer: Loan ‘one option’
Villa completed the deal with Hull to have the option of matching any bids for Philogene, matching the offer from Ipswich Town and leaving the player to decide which option to pursue.
They got around £5m back after he joined as part of a 30% sell-on clause and Ipswich are likely to be one of the clubs monitoring Philogene’s availability.
“[A loan] is one option for him and the club because there are many clubs interested in him,” said Emery. “They believe in his potential.
“We are not close [to agreeing a loan] and as a coach I don’t really want to let him go, but we are talking about different options.
“My talk has always been to be patient, to take time to improve things. The adjustment is going slower than we wanted, but still, in my opinion, the goal is there [for him] improve and help us here. Now it’s January, it could be an option for him and the team to let him go.”
Ipswich Town are interested in Aston Villa striker Jaden Philogene and are monitoring his situation. Ipswich agreed a deal with Hull City to sign him in the summer only for Villa to trigger the match clause. Philogene has started 4 games in all competitions this season. #ITFC #AVFC
— Dharmesh Sheth (@skysports_sheth) January 2, 2025
Villa v Leicester
Philogene and centre-back Diego Carlos will miss the Premier League visit of Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) due to minor injuries.
Defender Pau Torres is expected to be out for around two months after fracturing a metatarsal in his foot, while midfielder Morgan Rogers and striker Jhon Duran are suspended until the trip to Everton on January 15 (7.30pm).
Ninth-placed Villa are unbeaten in nine domestic league games, although their three-match winning run at Villa Park ended with a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday.
