Why Aston Villa have bagged a coup by signing this 23-year-old classic No.8

Why Aston Villa have bagged a coup by signing John McGinn

Aston Villa have signed midfielder John McGinn from Hibernian for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal, as per BBC.

McGinn, a Scottish League Cup winner with St Mirren in 2013, joined Hibernian in 2015. He helped Hibs lift the Scottish Cup in 2016 and was part of the team that clinched promotion to the top-flight the following season.

Aston Villa came ever so close to securing promotion back to the Premier League this past season but faltered at the final step as they were beaten 1-0 by Fulham in the playoff final. Failure to achieve promotion left Villa in shambles financially, with the Financial Fair Play rules prompting the club to release several players.

But following the entry of new investors, Villa’s financial situation got eased and manager Steve Bruce was successful at keeping hold of his prized assets, including James Chester and Jack Grealish. And by retaining the crux of his team, Bruce also pulled off a masterstroke by signing John McGinn before the summer transfer window slammed shut.

McGinn, 23, started his youth career at St. Mirren before moving to Hibernian in 2015. The central midfielder was hugely impressive in the 2017/18 campaign, subsequently earning a breakthrough in the Scottish national team. He was arguably one of the finest midfield talents in Scotland, enjoying a superb first season in the top-flight after Hibernian’s promotion in 2017.

Over the course of the previous campaign, McGinn was an influential presence in the Hibs’ midfield as Neil Lennon’s side finished fourth on their return to the Premiership, just three points behind third-placed Rangers. The 23-year-old contributed with five goals and two assists in 35 league games as the club earned a record points haul in the 2017/18 campaign.

A central midfielder by trade, McGinn is well-known for his industrious nature and work rate. The Scotland international is an energetic box-to-box midfielder who often surges forward to support the creative players of his team. The 23-year-old possesses exceptional ball retention skills and is an intelligent footballer with a great understanding of the game.

McGinn is a classic No. 8, offering both steel and artistry in the midfield. In fact, his presence will make Aston Villa a delightful team to watch in the Championship this season. Due to his stamina and tenacity, he is tailor-made for Championship football.

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Bruce already had a good squad at his disposal but following McGinn’s addition, the Villans look ready for another assault on Premier League promotion. Although the Scottish ace is not a complete package yet, he can certainly take his game to the next level under the watchful eyes of Bruce.

A combative, committed, dynamic and energetic midfielder, signing McGinn is a massive coup for Aston Villa.