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Aston Villa’s Gabby Agbonlahor Off to MLS?

By Josh Tonti

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa evades Robert Huth of Leicester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa evades Robert Huth of Leicester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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In a desperate move to offload Gabby Agbonlahor’s contract, club owner Dr. Tony Xia will look to Major League Soccer for a taker. 

There remains no doubt that Gabby Agbonlahor holds zero future at Aston Villa. The club’s all-time Premier League goal scorer has only been pushed down the striking depth chart after the signings of Jonathan Kodjia and Ross McCormack.

In the entire calendar year of 2016, the Birmingham-born Agbonlahor has played a total of 505 minutes of first team football. With all the scenarios pointing towards an exit, the club made every possible move to push him out during transfer deadline day; only for the striker to decline a loan switch to Reading FC.

With the club desperately looking to move on, a new taker for Gabby’s contract may have appeared: Major League Soccer. Reports indicate Agbonlahor could be the target of an expansion-side club as the league swells from eighteen teams to twenty starting next year, 2017.

Two clubs, Atlanta United & Minnesota United FC will commence operations as the new season begins in March 2017. Agbonlahor could make a fine addition to either squad as they look to fill out their rosters.

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Would Gabby Agbonlahor leave the only club he’s ever known for a move stateside? It’s unlikely he’s looking for any other team in England as he already spurned multiple moves to join rival Aston Villa clubs. A move abroad, however, can’t be off the table.

The delivery mechanism in bringing Agbonlahor to Major League Soccer should not be an issue either, as Agbonlahor has never played in the U.S. His discovery rights should be no problem for any club looking to bring him on-board.

One hurdle in the move could be Agbonlahor’s contract. His salary may require an acquiring team to burn a designated player spot–of which, every MLS club only has three. It’s unlikely any team would be willing to use a DP spot on Agbonlahor at this point in his career. Kenwyne Jones, for example, did not require a DP spot when he signed for Atlanta United and he may be a player of higher quality for Major League Soccer.

In total, Gabriel Agbonlahor has featured in 322 matches with Villa, tallying 73 goals in the process.

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