View: Three greatest Aston Villa January transfer signings ranked
Traditionally much of the transfer business done by Aston Villa has been in the summer window, but when used right, January is a brilliant opportunity to add additions to a struggling squad.
Over the past years, Villa have had several transfer flops, but in and amongst the rubble, they have found some unwanted gems who have gone on to have extremely fruitful careers at Villa Park.
Below are the three greatest January transfer signings in the club’s recent history.
3) Darren Bent – £18m from Sunderland, January 2011
Before Bent arrived at the club, Aston Villa were struggling in a relegation battle and level on goal difference with 18th-placed Wigan following a disappointing 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Birmingham City.
With Gerard Houllier at the helm, the club decided to splash the cash on the 13-cap England international, who was a direct replacement for the ageing John Carew and the misfiring Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Bent had already scored 11 goals that campaign for Sunderland, and he continued this rich vein of form, scoring on his home debut as Villa toppled big-spending Manchester City.
The forward would go on to net nine goals in just 16 games and help Villa propel themselves from a lowly 18th place to ninth by the end of the season.
Overall his Villa record was a thing of beauty. 25 goals in 53 games represented money well spent by former owner Randy Lerner, and it wasn’t until the striker fell out of favour under Paul Lambert that his time at the club drew to a close.
Bent really was the definition of an impact signing.
2) Paul Merson – £6.75m from Middlesbrough, January 1999
Signed from Middlesbrough in January 1999, Merson would go on to establish himself as a key cog in the works at Villa Park for three seasons, following a glittering 12-year stint at Arsenal.
The Englishman would go on to make 117 appearances in Claret and Blue, netting 18 times and providing nine assists along the way.
Merson left a lasting impression on supporters and was part of a side that flirted with the idea of success at the dawn of the Premier League era.
1) Ashley Young – £9.5m from Watford, January 2007
On 23 January 2007, Aston Villa signed a bright, exuberant winger by the name of Ashley Young.
Not many fans, or players alike, would have predicted he would still be playing for the west midlands side 16 seasons later, but his story of longevity and success is quite remarkable.
Signing by Martin O’Neill from Watford, not many fans knew what to expect from the Englishman, but he would go on to establish himself as a fan favourite and a core member of Scot’s highly successful side.
During his first stint at the club, Young made 157 appearances and netted 30 goals as he forged a fearsome strike partnership with Agbonlahor and Carew in attack.
With Young at the club, Villa managed to secure three sixth-placed finishes in the Premier League in a row, and his performance were rewarded with a call-up to the England set-up later in 2007.
Despite leaving for greater riches at Manchester United in 2011, Young is back where he belongs under Unai Emery at Villa Park, and at 37 years of age, there is still life in the old dog yet.
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