It was known that Aston Villa led the way in signing Zépiqueno Redmond from Feyenoord. Still young and without too many senior team caps, the Dutch striker has a lot of potential that ultimately led to Monchi and Unai Emery wanting to secure his talents now for the club.
As shared by Fabrizio Romano, Villa was able to sign Redmond on a free transfer from the Eredivisie side. He is only 18, with a birthday coming up in June, but it is clear that the teenager is someone to keep an eye on as he continues to develop at Bodymoor.
Having an eye for talent and trying to further assess what a player will become can be difficult. Early on, particularly in his Champions League appearances, there is a lot to be optimistic about.
When analyzing what Redmond has done well against senior-level competition, he is already developed enough in terms of his stature to compete in the Premier League without the concern of it being too overly physical for him.
He also has a high motor and good skills on the ball that should make it easier for his teammates to play along with him and create opportunities for others.
His off-ball movement is what stands out for his age so far. In truth, many stars do not even pay enough attention to this needed aspect. Redmond does well to include runs into space or off the final defenders and then reestablish himself again quickly in an onside position to give the midfield another option to turn to.
By that token, he also does not overdo it and picks good moments to give a darting run into space or simply stay between the posts, looking to pounce on a poacher's opportunity.
Keep in mind, Redmond is far from a finished product. Perhaps the most difficult aspect will end up being the mental part of his game. Being up top, there is only one metric that will ultimately matter. How he navigates an eventual goal drought, or if he struggles to score a lot early on, will be the single biggest determiner of what the new AVFC signee's career will look like.
Considering the hostile environments under less than ideal circumstances that he has already been a part of, it too appears likely that he will be able to overcome and soon endear himself to the Villa Park faithful.
Potential other options for new Aston Villa player to see the pitch
Redmond's position is a striker. That is not up for discussion. Because of his skill set and how he plays up top, there could be avenues for him to play further deep, perhaps alongside Ollie Watkins. Being a young player means needing to be able to play in an area that is not necessarily the ideal or primary position.
While it can frustrate fans, especially when the results do not go well, being versatile and willing to adapt is easily one of the best things anyone can do for their career.
Having someone who can be deployed, not strictly in one role, likely played a big factor in Villa making the move to sign Redmond.