De Laet Heads To Antwerp – Your Thoughts?

Following the unconfirmed speculation about Aston Villa’s Ritchie De Laet heading out to Antwerp, the club have today confirmed the switch.

The full back heads to Royal Antwerp on a loan spell until the end of the current season and he rejoins the club in Belgium having been on their books in the early stages of his professional career.

With injuries and the form of others effecting his time at Villa following his arrival from Leicester City in August 2016, he has only made seven starting appearances with a further five showings from the bench.

Hopefully he’ll get good game time and see his stock rise once again.

He seems excited at the move, he said in quotes in the Birmingham Mail that he had a good run in the UK but Antwerp is the club he has always supported and he’s excited to put their shirt back on.

“I was hoping to get back to Antwerp almost every year,” adding, “I`ve always been a fan of the club. When I heard about the interest, there was no doubt in my mind. I did everything to get back here.”

Seems a good move for Villa, off-loading wages, and a great move for him. Shame it didn’t work out at Villa but the injury set him back massively. It had looked a good move when he joined us from the Foxes. I remember him saying at the time he wanted more game time. Then three games in, he picked up that knee injury.

I wonder if this is a loan with a view to a permanent move? Can you see him doing well there and pushing himself back in contention for the right-back position at Villa? I would doubt it. Surely, having been bought by Bruce, James Bree will be being expected to push for a regular first team place next season?

Just one of those things with De Laet, hopefully Villa can start to get a bit more luck with transfers and stop seeing so much money spent for little to no return.

You can see more in our Forum thread..click Here with varying opinions as usual.

Danvilla said: “Shame, there’s a good player in there when he’s fit.”

Deanovilla on the other hand: Meh. 3rd best right back at the club. Another wage we need to offload. No great loss.