Dendoncker booked in for post-deadline medical to complete Aston Villa exit
Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker will undergo a medical after the transfer deadline as he completes a move to Anderlecht, according to Sacha Tavolieri.
The Belgian journalist posted on X (30 August) to report that the 29-year-old is set to arrive at his former club on Friday evening, with medical tests booked for the following day despite the transfer deadline.
The UK’s summer window closes at 11pm on 30 August, with Tavolieri previously reporting via X that Villa want to confirm the Belgian international’s exit by the end of play on Friday “for squad reasons”.
Dendoncker will therefore undergo his medical tests in Gent on Saturday as he begins a season-long loan move to Anderlecht, who do not have an option to buy the midfielder from Villa permanently.
Leander Dendoncker on brink of sealing Aston Villa exit
Dendoncker has never been a player at the forefront of Unai Emery’s plans at Villa Park, and he sent the Belgian out on loan to Napoli for the second half of last season.
In his absence, Villa secured a place in the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, and have also significantly bolstered their midfield to move Dendoncker further down the pecking order.
Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley and Enzo Barrenechea have all arrived as options in the middle, and although the latter is set to be loaned out [Fabrizio Romano, 29 August], it’s hard to see any way back for Dendoncker.
A return to the club where he made his name after an underwhelming two years at Villa Park could prove to be the making of Dendoncker, and that’s something Emery will certainly be hoping for this season.
Although Anderlecht don’t have an option to buy as part of the Belgian’s loan deal back to his homeland, Villa will be hoping that Dendoncker performs well enough to seal a permanent transfer down the line.
In other Aston Villa news, one Unai Emery signing staked his claim for international honours in the Villans’ 2-0 loss to Arsenal.
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