- Mohamed Koné, Kadan Young and Zépiqueno Redmond are all expected to join FC Annecy on loan this summer
- It comes as part of Aston Villa’s formal partnership with the French side under their V Sports ownership group
- The move would be Koné’s first senior loan, whilst Young and Redmond had disappointing spells last season
Aston Villa are preparing to send academy trio Mohamed Koné, Kadan Young, and Zépiqueno Redmond on loan to Ligue 2 side FC Annecy. The multi-club partnership established by Villa’s ownership group, V Sports, directly facilitates this development pipeline.
During the 2025/26 season, Kadan Young made headlines by providing a crucial assist in Villa’s Europa League win against Red Bull Salzburg, which ensured the second legs of the knockout rounds were played at Villa Park. He then joined Reading on loan in January, where he failed to make an impact.
Meanwhile, Dutch forward Zépiqueno Redmond had his season-long loan spell at Huddersfield Town cut short by injury setbacks following his summer move from Feyenoord.
Midfielder Mohamed Koné was a key player for Villa’s U-21s, where he made 21 appearances and scored two goals. He was ranked inside the top five percent in the Premier League 2 for defensive contributions, tackles, duels won, successful passes and successful dribbles.
According to a report by Jacob Tanswell in The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet, all three prospects will spend the duration of the 2026/27 campaign in France. The move directly leverages the multi-club partnership established by Villa’s ownership group, V Sports, to optimise the progression of their top youth talent in senior leagues.
V Sports partnership with FC Annecy
This triple loan agreement marks the latest phase of the formal partnership between Villa and Annecy. Led by billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, V Sports expanded its global footprint by officially purchasing a 30% minority stake in the French second-division side.
This relationship bridges the gap between academy football and elite men’s leagues. Rather than navigating unpredictable domestic loan markets, Villa can place their stars directly into a trusted system. The clubs share identical tactical frameworks, medical methodologies, and performance-tracking protocols.
The pipeline has already proven highly functional. Villa successfully sent defender Triston Rowe and midfielder Travis Patterson on loan to the Parc des Sports. Rowe’s impressive performances helped guide Annecy to a strong seventh-place finish in Ligue 2.
Annecy is just one component of a rapidly growing global multi-club network. Alongside the French side, V Sports boasts active partnerships and stakes in Vissel Kobe (Japan), Real Union (Spain), ZED FC (Egypt), and Columbus Crew (MLS), an informal partnership.
ReadAstonVilla verdict
This strategic loan agreement highlights the immense value of Villa’s multi-club network under V Sports. Sending Koné, Young and Redmond to Annecy allows Villa to bypass unpredictable domestic loans and place their assets into a trusted, structurally aligned environment.
This pathway serves as a win-win for both clubs, providing Annecy with high-calibre Premier League prospects while simultaneously protecting and expanding the long-term market value of Villa’s brightest academy stars.
