Bryan King makes ‘incredible’ transfer admission as Brentford sign Aston Villa-linked Hakon Valdimarsson
Villa News is delighted to welcome aboard our brilliant new columnist Bryan King, the former goalkeeper who spent over 10 years as a scout at Aston Villa and 28 years in total in first-team scouting roles. Bryan also spent six years on Tottenham’s recruitment team and eight years scouting at Everton…
Bryan King thought Aston Villa would have gone all out to sign 22-year-old goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson this month.
The Mail on Sunday reported in its print edition [21 January, page 101] that Villa made an approach for the Iceland international shot-stopper.
But their Premier League rivals Brentford have since completed his signature, with Valdimarsson joining the Bees until 2028 [official Brentford website, 26 January].
Speaking to Villa News, King said: “He was Goalkeeper of the Year last year for Elfsborg. He’s a good size, 6’4”, 22, I know he had a very good year last year, he’s done really well. And the fee is a record, £2.6million, for A, a goalkeeper moving from Sweden, and B, an Icelandic goalkeeper.
“It’s rather an interesting move, because since David Raya left for Arsenal, they haven’t looked so solid at the back. He looked far better at Brentford than he has really at Arsenal, he misjudges crosses on a regular basis. At Brentford he was excellent.
“I’d have thought Aston Villa would have gone all out to get Valdimarsson. But again everybody seems to be watching their money all the time. Brentford have done more business than what Liverpool have done, which is incredible.”
In other Aston Villa news, one Villa Park star produced a 100% stunner against Chelsea recently, with Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino dubbing him “amazing” after the match.
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