Kosta Nedeljkovic: World Cup hands defender final Aston Villa chance

Kosta Nedeljkovic's Aston Villa career has not gone the trajectory that was expected of the Serbian defender.

After arriving in the summer of 2024 as an 18-year-old and making his Premier League debut in the opening game that season, there were plenty of expectations placed upon Nedeljkovic.

However, as quickly as he found himself getting Premier League minutes, he found himself on the periphery of Unai Emery's plans.

Just a few months later, in the winter window of 2025, Nedeljkovic was loaned out to RB Leipzig, and it has been a move that has come with few positives.

RB Leipzig did hold an £8.7million option to buy the Serbian after bringing him back in the 2025 summer window, but have since decided against activating that clause.

Now, ahead of pre-season upon his Aston Villa return, Nedeljkovic faces a tough reality in England.

Why Kosta Nedeljkovic faces his biggest career crossroads at Aston Villa

During Nedeljkovic's second loan spell in Germany, he barely featured for RB Leipzig.

His time in the Bundesliga was hit by a tough start, with the Serbian picking up a knee injury in late September, that saw him miss 11 games for club and country.

Later, he would sustain a back injury in February and miss a further five matches for Leipzig.

However, truthfully, he was not a major loss for the German outfit. Across the whole season, he made just five Bundesliga appearances.

Only three of those matches were starts, and he averaged just 50 minutes per appearance.

Nedeljkovic struggled to impose himself, ending the season with just 27 per cent success in all of his duels. Additionally, his final appearance came on 20 December.

Why the World Cup hands Nedeljkovic a rare chance at Aston Villa

Ahead of returning to Aston Villa, Nedeljkovic has a fight on his hands to prove he is still capable of having a career at Villa Park.

However, all the signs currently point towards that not being the case. If Emery gives him a chance in pre-season, and he may get one due to many top stars being at the World Cup, he must take it.

Not all hope is entirely lost, though.

Villa will have 10 players at this summer's tournament, and with the likelihood that they will return back late compared to the rest, Emery will need numbers.

It could be his final chance, and if he fails to impress, he will have to face the music that maybe he is not quite at the level required.