Aston Villa one of four Premier League teams involved in damning stat after summer transfer window
Aston Villa were involved in a busy final few weeks of the transfer window.
Twelve players left the Villans in the summer, including Leon Bailey, who was once an important player for Aston Villa.
A number of players left on free transfers, with Leandro Dendoncker and Phillipe Coutinho agreeing to terminate their contracts.
However, it was Jacob Ramsey’s £40million move to Newcastle which hurt Unai Emery’s side the most, and means that their batch of local players has been reduced.
Aston Villa have zero local players
It was said that Ramsey didn’t push for a move to Newcastle after contract talks were opened just weeks prior to his departure.
Profit and Sustainability Rules meant that the attacker was sold in order to balance the books, and the rules have had a lasting impression across the Premier League.
According to The Athletic on 9 September, the number of local players in the top flight is getting smaller.
- Local players are classed as those who are brought up in the same city, county, or within a 45-minute drive of the club
- Ramsey would have been a local player, having grown up in Birmingham
In 1995, there were an average of 6.5 locals per squad. In 2010, it was 3.7. Now, it’s just 2.7.
The report adds that academy competition for 14-16-year-olds is driving this fall, and Villa are joined by Leeds, Burnley and Wolves with zero local players in their current squads – a pretty damning indictment.
| Team | Local players |
| Crystal Palace | 7 |
| West Ham | 7 |
| Arsenal | 6 |
| Chelsea | 5 |
Crystal Palace are at the top, with seven local players, and have made use of academy graduates such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrick Mitchell.
Aston Villa’s academy is falling behind
It is no surprise to see that the teams with the most local players generally are doing well in the league and financially.
Villa have sold academy graduates such as Kayne Kesler-Hayden because they have been unable to give them first-team football.
Over the last few campaigns, the Villans have invested heavily in players away from Villa Park, but now is the time to invest a bit closer to home.
After a summer where Emery has been unable to splash the cash, it seems like the perfect opportunity to make use of academy products and invest in grassroots football around the Midlands.
Aston Villa maintains a category one academy, and it feels like it’s time for them to produce another Jack Grealish or Gabby Agbonlahor.
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