Steven Gerrard and Tyrone Mings welcome Robin Olsen to Aston Villa on Instagram
Steven Gerrard and Tyrone Mings are clearly thrilled to have Robin Olson on board on a full-time basis at Aston Villa after the goalkeeper signed permanently at Villa Park on Saturday.
On 4 June, the Villans confirmed via their official Twitter account and official website that Olsen, 32, has signed for an undisclosed fee from Roma after spending the second half of last season on loan in the West Midlands.
Olsen took to Instagram to say he’s “really happy” to join Villa on a permanent basis and that led to comments from manager Gerrard and centre-back Mings.
Gerrard said: “So are we.”
Mings said: “Love it, mate.”
Olsen on-board
Olsen’s made quite a name for himself as a second-choice goalkeeper in recent years.
He joined Roma from Copenhagen in 2018 and was sent out on loan four times to Cagliari, Everton, Sheffield United and Aston Villa.
The Swedish shot-stopper didn’t play much at any of those clubs and only played once for Aston Villa – and even that was on the final day of the season in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad on 22 May.
It’s clear that Emi Martinez is Gerrard’s number one and even the permanent arrival of Olsen in the West Midlands doesn’t change that.
But a goalkeeper who’s a vastly experienced international who’s played for big clubs in England, Denmark, Greece and Italy is definitely a good goalkeeper to have as your second-choice.
Villa have done well to get this deal done early because it sorts out yet another issue in Gerrard’s squad well ahead of the 2022/23 season kicking off.
In other Aston Villa news, Gerrard wants three more new players this summer.