The transfer deadline day is the day where panic buys and left field deals kick into overdrive. Villa have been no stranger to dealing with both ins and outs on the craziest two days in the football calendar; some have been strokes of genius, others a sign of naivety.
Honorable mention
Stiliyan Petrov: Whilst the sporting hero was unveiled as a Villa player on deadline day, the Bulgarian’s move was actually completed the day before; a shame really because he could have easily walked into this list.
5. Nolberto Solano
The Peruvian joined and left The Villans during the last week of a transfer window. However, it was his eventual departure back to The Magpies that fell on deadline day. The midfielder only had one full season in the Midlands, yet it was arguably his best for a Premier League club. The then 30-year old found the net eight times in 2005-06; more than any other season in the Premier League, however, the signing of Patrik Berger and a change of tactics meant that Solano’s time at the club was cut short.
4. Libor Kozak
When Jim White rocks up on Sky Sports News and talks about “left field deals”, Kozak is the exact type of player he means. The 26-year old striker didn’t come with reputation but did come with pedigree; having been the UEFA Europa league’s top scorer in 2012-13.
Yet as Villa quickly learned from his less than impressive string of opening games, the big Czech struggled to live up to the €6.5 million transfer fee.
It is hard on him to say he is a flop. It is time to let the Villa faithful see his full potential. The horrible injury he suffered has not helped the impression fans have of him.
3. Eric Djemba Djemba
The 34-year old midfielder arrived at Villa after his infamous spell at Manchester United. Desperate to restore his reputation as a footballer. However, after just 11 league games, and not showing he was an improvement over existing midfielders Gavin McCann and Steven Davies, he was loaned out to Championship side Burnley.
There is a legend that when Martin O’Niell arrived at Aston Villa, he found the few minutes the Cameroonian played against Arsenal so poor that he decided the midfielder must go there and then. However, Djemba-Djemba had the last laugh, since he’s still an international footballer; just let that sink in.
2. Ashley Westwood
If this was a top five value for money transfers; Westwood would be number one. The Cheshire-born player arrived from Crewe for just £2 million, yet hit the ground running and has grown into an imperative player for Aston Villa. The play-maker teamed up well with Barry Bannan; with the two being one of the bright sparks of an overall disappointing 2012-13 season.
Westwood’s play-making ability helped Christian Benteke become goal machine at Villa. Not only that, Westwood was the player who drove himself into the limelight by scoring the goal that confirmed the club’s safety last season.
1. Christian Benteke
For a player that became such a hero with the Villa Park faithful; Benteke didn’t half seem like a panic buy when he was initially signed. As discussed a few weeks ago, the Belgian was only considered by Villa after Paul Lambert failed to convince Olivier Giroud to join the club over Arsenal. Then there was the question of a £7 million fee for a player with a goals to games ratio of less than 0.5, from not the most reputable league in the world and seen by many as a poorer version of Romelu Lukaku.
Yet perceptions are deceiving in football. Benteke answered all the questions asked of him in an incredible debut against Swansea City; before going on to be the fourth highest goalscorer in his debut season. Benteke couldn’t quite manage that in his following two seasons, but his 13 in last season’s campaign were one of the major reasons that the Villans stayed up.
Benteke would call time on his Villa career this summer having been sold to Liverpool for a £26.5 million profit. Yet stories like Benteke’s make the transfer window; the left field, second choice who goes on to be an icon despite popular opinion at the time saying otherwise, and despite all its flaws, that’s why we love it.
