Everton agree deal for Aston Villa youngster

Aston Villa youngster Tim Iroegbunam is close to a transfer away from the club as Everton have decided to take a punt on the midfielder. It is believed that the fee will be close to the £10 million mark which Aston Villa will be very happy with in terms of the pure profit for an academy player.

Iroegbunam played very little part in Aston Villa's historic 2023/24 season and even when a defensive midfielder was needed due to injuries to other players, Unai Emery often overlooked the 20-year-old. Iroegbunam started just one Premier League game last season and featured in just eight others from the substitutes bench.

It has become clear that the player is not part of Unai Emery's plans going forward and it is therefore the right time for Iroegbunam to push on in his career elsewhere.

Everton are expected to cash in on midfielder Amadou Onana this summer, with Arsenal and Aston Villa themselves interested in the Belgian powerhouse. It is likely that Onana will leave the Toffees this summer and it is believed that will likely be for a fee of around £50 million. The sale of Onana would also leave a gap in midfield and the signing of Iroegbunam would provide competition in the midfield.

Iroegbunam joined the Aston Villa academy from West Bromwich Albion in July 2021 and after impressing with his performances for the U23's he was rewarded with his Premier League debut in Villa's victory over Brighton in February 2022. Following several more appearances off the bench it the youngster signed for Queens Park Rangers in the EFL Championship on a season-long loan. Iroegbunam became a regular starter for The Hoops and went on to make 32 appearances for the club, scoring two goals from defensive midfield.

Following his impressive spell in the Championship that saw him receive a lot of praise he moved back to Villa and was expected to get more first team action at Villa Park. However, it didn't turn out that way and often Emery would rely on Leander Dendoncker when defensive midfield cover was needed, or even move the likes of John McGinn or Youri Tielemans further back in midfield rather than call upon Iroegbunam.

The midfielder, who has featured previously for England Under-21's, will be hoping that the move to Goodison Park will kick start his Premier League career. The negotiations are thought to be advancing quickly.

UTV