Aston Villa set for summer of interest in Tommi O’Reilly as EFL clubs circle
Bolton and Huddersfield Town are both at the front of the queue for Aston Villa winger Tommi O’Reilly.
That’s according to a report from Alan Nixon via his Patreon account on Sunday, as Aston Villa look set to prepare themselves for a summer of interest in the 22-year-old.
Nixon claims that both Bolton and Huddersfield are looking to sign a left-sided player for the 2026-27 season, and both have eyes on O’Reilly as such.
Having been with Villa since he was a boy, the versatile midfielder made his Villans first-team debut in the 2023-24 season, which came in the UEFA Conference League in January 2024.
How has Tommi O’Reilly been doing on loan at Crewe?
During his time at Villa Park, O’Reilly has been sent out on a number of loan moves across both English, and European football.
He spent a brief period of the 2023-24 season with Spanish outfit Real Union, before spending time in League One with Shrewsbury Town and MK Dons of League Two last term.
None of those moves were overly fruitful production-wise for O’Reilly, but it’s been with League Two side Crewe Alexandra this season where he’s really blossomed into a star player.
In 40 total appearances for Crewe, he’s bagged six goals and provided 12 assists, and has started all 36 of their league games so far this season.
Crewe are currently in ninth, but are only outside the play-off places on goal difference, and so O’Reilly may still have a big part to play in their promotion push to League One.
What is O’Reilly’s contract situation at Aston Villa?
Having lit up League Two this season, it’s no surprise to see League One clubs taking a keen look at O’Reilly ahead of the summer window.
But, at 22, he is perhaps not far enough ahead in his development to push for a sizeable first-team role in Unai Emery‘s side yet, and so allowing him to leave on a permanent basis could be the best for all parties.
Thankfully, O’Reilly did pen a new long-term contract with Villa in January 2024, meaning he’s now contracted in the West Midlands until the summer of 2028.
As such, should he move on this summer, then Villa are in a strong position to hold out for the sort of fee they believe is a fair one, but his form with Crewe this term may just have them wanting to take a closer look at him in pre-season.
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