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(Credit: Imago, Getty)
Oliver Walton
Fri 1 August 2025 7:00, UK
Lamare Bogarde has sent an emotional message to teammate Leon Bailey as the Jamaica international edges closer to an Aston Villa exit ahead of the new campaign.
Aston Villa enjoyed another decent season under Unai Emery last time out, but Bailey’s influence on their fortunes waned in comparison to previous campaigns.
The pacey winger joined the Villans from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for a fee of £25million, and he impressed in his first few seasons at the club, and scored 14 times in 52 appearances in 2023/24.
He netted just twice in all competitions last term though, amid more competition for places with Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen, and former club scout Mick Brown revealed to Football Insider back in February that Villa were planning to accept transfer offers for Bailey this summer.
The Jamaican international has continued to be linked with a Villa Park exit, with Brown again revealing to Football Insider on 15 July that the Lions are trying to move Bailey on right now, with Emery currently pushing to sign Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.
Bailey struggled to make an impact last season (Credit: Imago)
The 27-year-old is yet to find a new club despite Villa actively trying to ship him out, and Emery has chosen to make use of his services on their pre-season tour of the USA so far, with appearances in both of their friendlies against Eintracht Frankfurt and St.
Louis City.
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Bailey still looks to be in high spirits despite his uncertain future with the Second City side, as he took to Instagram on Thursday (31 July) to share a number of pictures of him both in training or playing for Villa in their recent friendly games.
His post drew a response from Lions teammate Bogarde, who left a red heart emoji in the comments, while Samuel Iling Jr sent a fire emoji in reply, while other players such as Jacob Ramsey, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans and former Villa loanee Marcus Rashford all left likes.
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Football Insider verdict
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke has continued to report that Villa are “definitely” open to offers for Bailey this summer, with numerous Saudi Pro League sides expressing an interest in his services.
While he certainly impressed and won the hearts of supporters at Villa Park for his performances in his first three seasons at the club, last term saw him regress to being a bit-part player, and it seems unlikely that there is any way back for him under Emery at present.
The 27-year-old featured 24 times in the Premier League in 2024/25, but made just 14 starts, with only four of those coming after the turn of the year as Rashford and Asensio joined on loan and each made a huge impact.
AppearancesGoalsAssists1442224Bailey’s Villa career stats
He can still be effective, as shown by his decent performances on occasion, but a lot has changed at Villa in the four years since his arrival and he is no longer considered a marquee player by the club or its fans anymore.
It seems like a matter of ‘when’ he leaves and not ‘if’ he leaves the Second City this summer, and from a personal point of view, a move to the Saudi Pro League would surely appeal due to the high wages that numerous state-backed clubs in the country offer to unwanted Premier League players.
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