Aston Villa have made a surprise move in the transfer window by triggering a clause they inserted in a deal to sell an academy star last summer.
Unai Emery is fully focused on getting his Aston Villa squad ready for the 2024/25 season following the return of the players for pre-season this week.
Villa will be competing in the Champions League after an incredible season last time around and need additions to be ready for Europe’s elite club competition.
That work is well underway, with the additions of Lewis Dobbin, Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenchea and Ross Barkley.
- READ MORE: Why Ross Barkley’s arrival is perfect for ‘complete’ Aston Villa gem compared to Sergio Busquets
However, now Emery could move to sign a player he only sanctioned the sale of last summer as Villa included a clause that allows them to match any bid made for their academy graduate.
Aston Villa activate clause for Jaden Philogene after Ipswich Town bid
That player is Jaden Philogene, who Villa sold to Hull City for £5 million last summer with a number of transfer clauses included in the deal.
One such clause means that, if Hull are promoted, Villa will have the option of re-signing the 22-year-old for £15 million.
That scenario has not emerged this summer after Hull fell short of the Championship play-offs but, with summer interest in Philogene, Villa have now ‘activated the matching rights clause’ for Philogene after Ipswich Town submitted an £18 million bid.
That is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who posted on ‘X’: ‘Aston Villa have activated the matching rights clause for Jaden Philogene after Ipswich Town bid.
If Hull City receive higher bids from elsewhere, Aston Villa must decide whether to stay in the process.
Ipswich Town keep insisting, same for Crystal Palace and Everton’.
What does Aston Villa transfer clause for Philogene mean?
It is perhaps no surprise to see the likes of Ipswich, Crystal Palace and Everton interested in Philogene this summer given he scored 12 and assisted six in 32 Championship appearances last season.
The tricky winger gained a lot of attention for a goal he scored against Rotherham United in February where he nutmegged a defender before firing a Rabona into the far corner.
The piece of skill was described as “ridiculous” by Hull manager Liam Rosenior at the time, with the coach saying: “Ridiculous, it’s ridiculous, his ability is something we have missed for a long time. He is only going to get better the more games he plays.
“It is not just his goal or the showreel moments, it is his energy levels for the team, he has a real belief, he can be a top player but the reason he can be a top player is because he works so hard on his game.”
Villa knew of Philogene’s talents but allowed the player to leave last summer to get first-team football.
However, the clauses inserted ensured they would have first refusal on any future deal for the England under-21 international.
That is where the ‘matching rights clause’ is key, as this simply means that whenever Hull receive a bid for Philogene, Villa must be given the opportunity to match it to re-sign the winger.
With Ipswich bidding £18 million to sign the former Villa man, Villa have decided to match that offer according to Romano.
