A look back on Aston Villa’s playoff-winning side from the 2018/19 season, examining where each player is now.
Villa’s turbulent time in the Championship came to an end five years ago when they beat Derby County 2-1 at Wembley.
Goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn were enough to see out the victory and end their three-year stay in the second tier.
Since then, Villa has only continued to improve and have now qualified for the Champions League under the guidance of Unai Emery.
However, none of this would have been possible without the heroics of that side who ensured promotion was secured.
Now, five years on from the match, this article examines where each played from that Villa starting XI is now.
GK – Jed Steer
Despite limited appearances in the Villa jersey across his 10-year spell at the Birmingham outfit, Steer got the nod to start between the sticks for the final.
However, following their promotion, Jed Steer only played nine more times with the incoming Emi Martinez locking down the number one spot.
A loan spell to Luton Town followed before he was released in May 2023. The 31-year-old has since secured a short-term deal at League One side Peterborough United where he helped them win the EFL Trophy and reach the playoffs.
RB – Ahmed Elmohamady
Upon promotion to the Premier League, Ahmed Elmohamady enjoyed another two years at Villa where he played a key role in keeping them in the top flight.
In 2021, his time at the Birmingham outfit came to an end when he was released at the end of his contract.
He has since been without a club but has now become an ambassador for Villa.
CB – Axel Tuanzebe
The centre-back played a big role in Villa’s promotion despite being on loan from Man United throughout the campaign.
After the final, Axel Tuanzebe returned to the Red Devils before eventually returning to Villa Park for the first half of the 2021/22 season.
After further loan spells at Napoli and Stoke City, the defender moved permanently to Ipswich Town in September 2023. Here, he helped oversee the Tractor Boys’ promotion back to the top flight.
CB – Tyrone Mings
The first player on this list to still be at Villa Park. Tyrone Mings signed for Villa permanently for a fee potentially rising to £25 million upon their promotion.
Since then, the defender has played a crucial role in the Premier League where he has helped lead the club to a League Cup final as well as a return to Europe.
Mings is now also an experienced England international and has played 18 times for Gareth Southgate’s side.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Aston Villa sensation Tyrone Mings.
LB – Neil Taylor
Neil Taylor only played a small role for Villa after their promotion to the Premier League. In the following two seasons, the Welshman made 22 appearances for the club.
From here, he was released which led him to join Championship side Middlesbrough in November 2021. Taylor once again struggled for game time due to injuries and he announced his retirement in November 2022.
Since then, the Welshman has pursued a career in coaching. This led Taylor to become the assistant coach for the Wales Under-21s side as well as the first-team manager of UAE outfit Gulf United FC.
CM – John McGinn
Another player who has now become a modern Villa legend. John McGinn capped off his first season at Villa Park in style as he played a key role in the playoff final, scoring the club’s second. Since then, the Scotsman has continued to show his worth.
Like Mings, the midfielder helped guide the club to the League Cup final. In the 2023/24 campaign, McGinn oversaw Villa’s ascension back into the Champions League.
Going into his seventh season at the club, McGinn is Villa’s captain and easily one of their best players.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Aston Villa’s captain John McGinn.
CM – Conor Hourihane
After playing a massive in the Championship with Villa, Conor Hourihane kept his place in the side in the following campaign.
However, the 2020/21 season saw his role diminish as he was sent out on loan to Swansea City. Another loan spell at Sheffield United followed before he was released in June 2022.
Hourihane has since joined Derby County upon their relegation to League One. In the 2023/24 campaign, he helped oversee their promotion back into the Championship as captain.
CM – Jack Grealish
The star man on this list, Jack Grealish does not need an introduction. The English international captained Villa to the playoff victory before overseeing another two years in the Premier League with the Birmingham side.
From here, Grealish moved to Man City for a British record fee of £100 million. At the Citizens, the winger has won almost everything including a famous treble in the 2022/23 campaign.
RW – Albert Adomah
One of the few players not to follow Villa into the Premier League, Albert Adomah was released by the club after the final.
From here, he joined Nottingham Forest for a season which wasn’t fruitful and saw him sent out on loan to Cardiff City.
Forest and Adomah would agree to terminate his contract resulting in him joining QPR for the 2020/21 season. It was announced in May 2024 that he would be leaving the capital side at the end of the season.
Adomah then opted to drop down the leagues and joined West Midlands rivals Walsall in League Two.
ST – Tammy Abraham
After a highly successful loan spell at Villa, Tammy Abraham returned to Chelsea where he became their main striker.
A Champions League and a Super Cup title later, Abraham left England to join Italian side Roma for the 2021/22 season.
Here, he helped lift the capital side’s first-ever European trophy with their Europa Conference League victory in 2022.
LW – Anwar El Ghazi
The final player in the starting XI, Anwar El Ghazi played a massive role at Villa in the following two seasons after promotion.
In the 2021/22 campaign, his time at Villa Park was cut short when he was sent out on loan to Everton. After this, El Ghazi completed a move to Dutch side PSV where he stayed for one season winning two trophies.
The winger then moved to German side Mainz 05 for the 2023/24 campaign. However, his time there was cut short when his contract was terminated. He has since been without a club.
