John McGinn Aston Villa
Villa signed McGinn in the summer of 2018, just as Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens swooped in to rescue the club from the threat of administration. McGinn was the first significant signing of the NSWE era, costing around £3 million from Hibs, where he had made a name for himself in the SPL, particularly in games against Celtic, for whom his grandfather was chairman. The move worked out well for the Scotland international, who represented his country at Euro 2024 in Germany this past summer. McGinn became such an important figure in the team that Steven Gerrard appointed him captain during his tenure at the club.
McGinn’s brother Paul, who plays for Motherwell, reflected on the inevitable expectation of a move to Parkhead, only for Villa to emerge with an offer instead.
Paul McGinn said “You wouldn’t have imagined [his rise to the top]. I remember watching the games against Celtic and thinking, ‘Surely they are going to take him as a no-risk signing.’ He has done really well against them. This is a no-risk. Down south with Aston Villa, they were still in the Championship at the time. I think they were mid-table, but they made a right few good signings.”
Paul McGinn also shared his thoughts on Villa’s American co-owner, Wes Edens:
Paul McGinn said “That American came in [co-owner Wes Edens] and I thought he has got a right chance now, even then. To be at the top of your game for that long is unbelievable. It’s so tough. You never had seen it [McGinn’s rise]. I thought he might have played in the Premier League, but been a bit part.”
Reflecting on Celtic’s role in the potential transfer, Paul added:
Paul McGinn said “I was not really getting that involved. That was basically what we thought was going to happen because it was only Celtic that were in really. I think Celtic had wind of that as well. I don’t know if they thought that was maybe agent talk or something. My grandad was chairman [at Celtic].”
McGinn is set for a few weeks on the sidelines due to injury, but he is expected to return well in advance of Celtic’s visit to Villa Park in the Champions League in January.
