Aston Villa have pulled off one of the most underrated signings of the summer

Aston Villa have just pulled off one of the most underrated signings of the summer under Unai Emery, which could be crucial to their chances of success in 2024/25.

After qualification to the UEFA Champions League, Unai Emery has done an outstanding job since being appointed to the Midlands club as a replacement for Steven Gerrard.

However, with the transfer window only being open for two weeks, the Villans are experiencing some change, with Brazilian Douglas Luiz has completing a move to Juventus.

Enzo Barrenchea and exciting English winger Samuel-Iling Junior are set to move to Villa Park in the deal that will see Luiz move to Turin but there is another player, who Villa are signing, that could prove to be key and at little expense.

Free signing could prove to be the difference

With the loss of Luiz, Villa have lost a key bit of experience in the middle of the park but the free signing of former Luton Town midfielder Ross Barkley, could go someway to solving that issue.

HITC reported in May that Villa were confident of a deal for the English midfielder and could exploit a mechanism in the midfielder’s deal at the Hatters.

Despite interest from Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, Villa were always confident of sealing a deal and they finally confirmed the signing of the midfielder.

After a rather unsuccessful loan spell at Villa three seasons ago, Barkley’s career turnaround means he will be given another chance to impress at Villa Park.

Last season for the relegated Luton, Barkley played in 32 Premier League games for The Hatters, scoring five goals and providing four assists from a deeper position.

Barkley has been compared to Diego Maradona

Former teammate at Luton, Andros Townsend was full of praise for the English midfielder following the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City and the Englishman was, incredibly, compared to Diego Maradona.

“Honestly, they’ve been some of the best midfield performances I’ve seen in my career,” he told talkSPORT following the defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side.

“It’s just unbelievable – the calmness, the ability to get the ball off the back four and knock it past some of the world’s best midfielders without a care in the world.

“We saw yesterday against Man City, Maradona was in the midfield to set up our goal – honestly, it’s been a joy to watch.

“In a way he’s given confidence to the rest of the players around him, including myself. Just that calmness to take the ball under pressure, it’s such an underrated skill.

Maradona is a lofty comparison. But if Barkley can be half the player, he will be an astounding addition to a club he already knows very well.