Yannick Bolasie joins Aston Villa on loan and targets promotion back to the Premier League
Bolasie turned down a loan move to Middlesbrough after looking around Villa's facilities
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Your support makes all the difference.Yannick Bolasie has completed a season-long loan from Everton to Aston Villa.
Bolasie was at Middlesbrough’s training ground, Rockliffe Park, earlier in the week but was convinced by Steve Bruce to switch Goodison for Villa Park.
Villa also signed Dutch-winger Anwar El Ghazi from French side Lille on a season-long loan on Wednesday as they continue to use loan deals to add re-enforcements after being financially restricted in the transfer market.
Bolasie joined Everton for £25m from Crystal Palace but his time on Merseyside was hampered by a serious knee injury that ruled him out of action for a year.
“My main aim here is to get this club promoted,” said Bolasie. “A club of this stature has to be in the Premier League.
“I looked around both Villa Park and the training ground, and me and my family just said, ‘wow’. It’s Premier League everywhere you look.
“I’m here to make myself smile again and use all my ability to try and help the team. It’s great to be here.”
Villa, who remain undefeated thanks to Jonathan Kodjia’s 94th minute equaliser against Brentford, now have a squad capable of finishing top of the Championship, especially having retained Jack Grealish amid interest from Tottenham.
Bruce’s side have produced more crosses than any other Championship side in their opening four matches, but mixed quality from Albert Adomah and the absence of Robert Snodgrass has meant Villa have struggled to convert possession into chances.
Bolasie gives Villa the direct and fearsome presence, if he is fit, that they have previously been lacking, and he will fit nicely into Bruce’s systems which is designed to get the best out of their superior individual talents.
The larger than average pitch at Villa Park has already been beneficial to Villa, late goals have already turned one point into four in their last two home matches. Bolasie will charge around that pitch and stretch opposition teams to create pockets of space for Jack Grealish to work his magic.
The 29-year-old brings experience and know-how of getting out of the Championship. He was a key feature to Crystal Palace’s promotion campaign in 2012/13 and developed into a crucial part of their subsequent survival in the Premier League.
Even if he is a fraction of his former self, and that would be understandable after such a long lay-off, he can be the Championship’s standout player, and potentially the difference between promotion and Villa’s third season in the second-tier.
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