As the January transfer window opens, clubs across the Premier League hope to find the missing piece to transform their season. For Aston Villa, recent years under Unai Emery have seen shrewd winter business, but history is littered with costly mid-season missteps.
High-Profile Flops and Failed Gambles
The list of Villa's disappointing January recruits is headlined by Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian playmaker arrived on loan from Barcelona in January 2022 amid huge excitement, given his former status as a Liverpool star sold for up to £142 million. An initial return of five goals in 19 games was decent, but his permanent £17m move that summer proved a resounding failure, earning him a rating of just 5 out of 10.
In the desperate winter of 2020, with Villa in a relegation battle, Ally Samatta was signed for £8.5 million from Genk. The Tanzanian striker scored on his league debut and in the EFL Cup final, but then his contributions dried up. He failed to score again, making 13 starts before a September exit to Fenerbahce. His minimal impact earns a lowly 3/10 rating.
Forgotten Faces and Quick Exits
Further back in January 2011, Villa spent £6.2m on Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun. A seasoned Cameroon international, he was sent off just two weeks after his debut and never reclaimed a regular spot. After two loan spells and just 11 appearances, he left in 2013, scoring a mere 2/10.
The same 2020 window also brought Borja Baston on a free from Swansea. The Spaniard, who had scored only six Championship goals that season, managed a paltry two appearances for Villa before being released. He is arguably the worst of the lot, rated 1/10.
Completing a trio of disastrous 2020 loans was Danny Drinkwater. The former Leicester title-winner made just four appearances and was reportedly told to leave the training ground in March after an altercation with teammate Jota, also earning a 1/10 rating.
Other Notable January Disappointments
Villa's history of underwhelming winter business doesn't end there. Other notable mentions include:
- Scott Sinclair: A low-impact 2015 loan from Manchester City that somehow led to a permanent deal.
- Henri Lansbury: A £3m Championship signing in 2017 who made only 41 league appearances in four years before his contract was terminated.
- Yacouba Sylla: A 2013 arrival from France with big expectations who departed on loan after just 22 games.
While the current Villa regime has transformed the club's transfer fortunes, these past January windows serve as a stark reminder of how quickly recruitment can go wrong, with millions wasted on players who failed to make their mark at Villa Park.
