Aston Villa had a busy winter transfer window, making five major signings to try and help their top four push and give them a boost in the Champions League knockouts.
Two of those additions were on permanent deals. Right-back Andres Garcia made the move to the West Midlands from Spanish side Levante, and attacker Donyell Malen joined the club from Borussia Dortmund.
The other three signings were loan deals. One of those was a defender, with Axel Disasi making the temporary switch to Villa from Chelsea.
They also brought in two attackers on loan. One of those was experienced attacking midfielder Marco Asensio from Paris Saint Germain, and the other was perhaps the more exciting addition initially, Marcus Rashford.
Marcus Rashford's fleeting Aston Villa career so far
What a coup it was for the Villans to bring Rashford in on loan from Manchester United.
Despite the fact it has been a tough few months for him, there is no doubting the quality of a player Xavi once described as “very, very dangerous”. The legendary midfielder certainly knows what he is talking about when it comes to deadly attackers, given he played with Lionel Messi.
Rashford’s record for United is exceptional. In 426 games for the club, he scored 138 goals and grabbed 63 assists. Of course, that included his fantastic 30-goal campaign in the 2022/23 season, in which he scored in the Carabao Cup final.
Prior to his Villa debut, which came in the FA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur, manager Unai Emery expressed his excitement at working with someone as talented as Rashford. He explained that he is “very happy to try to exploit” the potential the England international has to offer.
Minutes played
24
Touches
22
Accurate passes
13/14 (93%)
Key passes
0
Shots
0
Successful dribbles
1/2
Ground duels won
3/5
Aerial duels won
1/1
Tackles
2
Villa fans will be hoping he can be the catalyst to Champions League qualification via a top-four finish and a deep run in the competition. With the likes of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins alongside Rashford, they certainly have the talent in their squad to go on a good run.
However, they might be looking back and perhaps wishing that a former star was in Rashford’s shoes.
The former star Aston Villa will wish they still had
When you think of the best Aston Villa in the last few years, only one man springs to mind; Jack Grealish. The England international has struggled since his £100m move to Manchester City in 2021, but he was spellbinding at Villa Park.
Villa meant everything to the boyhood fan, and it was no doubt painful for him to leave almost four years ago. He played 213 games for the club, scoring 32 goals and registering 41 assists.
Grealish was pivotal in his last three seasons donning that famous Claret and Blue shirt. In 2018/19, his 12 goal involvements helped his side earn promotion back to the Premier League before he registered 14 and 16 goals and assists in the two seasons that followed to keep them in the top flight.
2018/19
Championship
31
6
6
2019/20
Premier League
36
8
6
2020/21
Premier League
26
6
10
Since his then-record-breaking move to the Etihad Stadium, things have been up and down for the former Villa captain. He has played 148 games for City, scoring 16 goals and grabbing 23 assists.
His best season in the top flight in terms of goals and assists is 12, less than his best at Villa. With that being said, he has won three Premier League titles, including the treble.
At Villa Park, the now £37m-rated England international was a maverick footballer. He was a rich source of goals and was an “elite playmaker” according to football statistician Statman Dave. Grealish embodied Villa and was a huge reason as to why they kept Premier League status.
As good as Rashford could be for Emery, Villa fans might not be able to help but wonder what their former captain might have been able to produce if he played for the club now. A player boasting similar flair and the ability to make something happen out of nothing, he would certainly bring that to the club in abundance were he still there in 2025.
Nothing beats the feeling of seeing a homegrown player performing week in, and week out for the club. Villa fans can only wonder what Grealish might have been able to produce if he still played for his boyhood club.
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1 ByKelan SarsonFeb 10, 2025