Aston Villa acquires Kortney Hause on-loan with view for permanent transfer

Aston Villa bolstered its defensive corps on Monday with the season loan of Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back Kortney Hause. Hause, 23, can fill-in at left-back as well.

After a week of deliberations between three parties, Aston Villa finally secured the half-season loan of Wolves’ Kortney Hause with an option to make the transfer permanent. Akin to Axel Tuanzebe’s loan from Manchester United last January, Hause can play his way into the club’s (more specifically, manager Dean Smith’s) long-term plans at Villa Park.

Hause debuted as a professional at Wycombe Wanderers before a move to Wolves materialized in 2014. Starting as a 20-year-old defender in the second division in 2015/2016, Hause earned numerous call-ups to the England under-20 and under-21 sides.

Since that season, however, Hause has played less than 30 matches across three years. With stagnant development, now was the time to move, and Aston Villa provides an opportunity.

The question now rotates to, “how will he fit in?”

Hause is a left-footed central defender by trade who can operate as a left-back as well. By nature of supply, he should fit in very well at the club. Aston Villa has not had a left-footed centre-back since Nathan Baker and Ciaran Clark were shipped off to Bristol City and Newcastle United, respectively.

I suspect Hause will challenge Tommy Elphick and Neil Taylor for a place in the starting XI immediately. Moreover, it gives manager Dean Smith the requisite number of defenders and types of defenders to experiment with a 3-back system.

There were rumors before the transfer that we has dealing with a foot injury. It’s possible he could be recovering in the near future, but that information has not been confirmed by the club. In any case, this move seems like a win-win-win scenario for Aston Villa, player, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Welcome, Kortney!