Aston Villa Academy: Indiana Vassilev ends torturous spell at Villa Park with move to MLS
Aston Villa have confirmed Indiana Vassilev’s stay in the West Midlands has been brought to a close, with the 21-year-old sealing a permanent move to St Louis City SC on Tuesday. [AVFC, 17 January]
The American returns to his homeland after five-and-a-half years at Villa Park, but much of this time wasn’t spent in claret and blue, but instead, out on loan at several different clubs.
The winger has been sent on loans to Burton Albion, Cheltenham Town and Inter Miami in recent campaigns whilst spending the last year-and-a-half with the US outfit, where he has featured 45 times and netted five goals.
After arriving at Aston Villa as a teenager, Vassilev rose through the academy’s youth teams rapidly and earned many plaudits from those high up in the Villa hierarchy. During his spell in the club’s development teams, the striker netted 13 goals and assisted another seven in just under 60 games.
He made his first-team debut under Dean Smith in the FA Cup in 2020 at 18 years old and went on to make four more appearances in that season – as Villa’s attacking ranks were hit by a savage string of injuries.
Despite looking set to be given a run of opportunities under Smith, the signings of Ollie Watkins and Ally Samatta that year confined him to a lengthy spell on the bench.
Vassilev has certainly undoubtedly proven himself to be no mug since he failed to break into the first team, having been capped extensively for the United States across various youth levels.
Although the American was clearly a bright prospect in the youth ranks, he unfortunately struggled to adjust to the harsh realities of professional football in England.
Even when sent out on loan to Burton and Cheltenham he looked a little out of sorts, and a return to his homeland will do his career a world of good. There is bundles of talent in the 21-year-old, and a successful stint at St Louis City SC could well see him earn a call-up to the US national team in the future.
It is mad to think Vassilev is still in the infancy of his career after being in and around the Villa ranks for so many years, but he has finally ended his laborious stint in the West Midlands.
In other Aston Villa news, Carla Ward’s contract extension is a landmark move by the club’s hierarchy and a just reward for her team’s fine performances in the WSL this season.