Kosta Nedeljković is currently on loan at German side RB Leipzig in his second spell at the club. This season, he has struggled for regular minutes, causing a likely return to Aston Villa in the summer.
Nedeljković’s second stint with RB Leipzig appears to be drawing to a close, as the Serbian defender struggles to find consistent playing time in the Bundesliga.
Despite the high expectations surrounding his return to Germany, the lack of regular minutes has made a return to parent club Aston Villa this summer almost a certainty.
While the move to Leipzig was intended to provide the young fullback with high-level European experience, the reality has been far more static. Nedeljković has found himself on the periphery of the squad, unable to break into a settled defensive unit.
Despite RB Leipzig holding a €10 million (£8.7 million) buy option for the Serbian, according to BILD, they have no intention of exercising it. He has fallen down the pecking order at right-back, behind Ridle Baku and Benjamin Henrichs.
With his last appearance coming in December, the 20-year-old has had a drastic change in events compared to his first loan stint in February 2025.
Nedeljković started brightly during his first six months, playing in ten out of the fourteen matches possible. His performances earned him a move back to the Red Bull Arena, with the hopes of continuing his form, and a potential permanent deal later along the line.
Frequent injuries have impacted his development. A knee injury occurred near the start of the season, keeping him out of action for almost two months.
Then, not long after he returned, Nedeljković had a back injury, which kept him out for another month. Subsequently, he couldn’t work his way back into the team.
BILD also revealed that on the last day of the January transfer window, Fiorentina showed interest in signing the defender; however, no agreement was reached with Villa.
What’s next for Nedeljković?
There was a lot of promise when he first signed for the Villans in 2024. In the ten appearances he made under Unai Emery, supporters saw the raw talent he possessed. His speed and willingness to get forward were exciting to see, but some nurturing was needed to fine-tune his ability.
When he returns to the Midlands in the summer, he is likely to find himself once again down the pecking order. Matty Cash and Andrés García will both be ahead of him, although the latter could depart Villa Park.
| Scenario | Likelihood | Impact |
| Aston Villa First Team | Moderate | Needs a strong pre-season to convince Emery. |
| Domestic Loan (Championship) | High | Would provide the physical intensity needed for English football. |
| Permanent Sale | Low | Villa still view him as a long-term prospect. |
García has also struggled with injuries, and his performances haven’t been up to the standard he once showed during his first few matches at the club.
Nedeljković’s current contract runs until 2029, leaving Villa with ample time to decide his future. Emery will no doubt give the right-back opportunities to showcase what he is capable of in pre-season, but the Serbian has a lot of work to do to break into the first team again.
As the summer window approaches, Nedeljković will be eager to put a difficult season behind him and prove that his talent remains undiminished by a quiet year in Germany.
