BURNLEY have missed out on the signing of Ashley Young after the former England international rejoined Aston Villa on a free transfer from Inter Milan. The Clarets saw the versatile 35-year-old as someone who could help supplement them in wide areas and at one point looked to be in pole position to secure his signature. Young, who scored 38 goals in 190 appearances for Villa between 2006 and 2011, has however signed a one-year contract to return to Villa Park.
Ashley Young said: “It feels amazing to be back, it feels like I’ve not left. I’m just delighted to be back, seeing some old faces, being back at the training ground, seeing the facilities and how well they’ve grown. You can see how much the club has evolved since my time and I’m just ready to get down to work now.”
Young, who won 39 England caps and travelled to Euro 2012 and the 2018 World Cup, joined Villa from Watford before leaving for Manchester United.
Ashley Young added: “When I heard of the interest from Aston Villa, it was straight to my agent, ‘get a deal done, whatever you can, get a deal done’. I think someone said (about me), ‘he’s coming to the end of his career’, ‘he hasn’t got that hunger any more’, ‘he’s just going there for a swansong’… That’s not me at all, I’ve still got that winning mentality, that winners’ attitude, that desire and hunger to go and win.”
Dean Smith said: “Ashley brings with him a wealth of experience of top-level football both at club and international level and he is joining having just won a league championship in Italy. He is a player who can play in a number of positions and, having spoken to him at length, I know he is determined to make a real impact with us this season.”
