Many players will see their time come to an end at Aston Villa today, John Townley reports
Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen
Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen(Image: PA)
A number of Aston Villa players will see their time at the club come to an end today.
In total, 13 players will bid farewell to Villa Park for good as their contracts expire on June 30.
Villa confirmed their retained list earlier this month, which included only two senior players.
The most high-profile is Robin Olsen, who initially joined Villa on loan in January 2023 before signing permanently the following summer.
Since then, he has served as backup to Emi Martínez, making a total of 22 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Before the end of the season, Villa boss Unai Emery spoke of his admiration for Olsen and praised his influence in the dressing room.
“Especially with Robin Olsen, I respect him—before, now, and for his future—as a really amazing man and professional.
"The respect for him in the dressing room, from the players and myself as a coach, is massive. He is a fantastic guy. He always helps us when we need him, and he’s always positive with his teammates.
"He’s an example in every way, and the message he constantly sends in the dressing room is to think of others and not be selfish. He is a really great, great man—a great, great man and a great, great goalkeeper.”
Olsen was also recognised for his contributions to the club at Villa’s end-of-season awards ceremony.
The Sweden international will now start a new chapter in his career, at Malmo, where he started playing as a youngster.
Villa will have to sign at least one goalkeeper this summer, to replace Olsen, but Martínez could also depart.
Kortney Hause also departs after six-and-a-half years at the club, having initially joined on loan in January 2019.
Hause played a part in Villa’s promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs but has seen limited game time in recent years.
His last senior appearance came while on loan at Watford, in a match against Sunderland in September 2022.
Academy players Todd Alcock, Mikell Barnes, Ajani Burchall, Kobei Moore, and Kyrie Pierre will also leave the club today.
Rico Richards, whose contract expired this summer, joined Stockport County on a permanent deal on June 10.
Charlie Lutz, meanwhile, has signed for Cork City.
Max Asante-Boakye, Alex Hammond, Max Lott, and Nile Timson have also been released by the club.
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