Aston Villa's President of football operations Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo "Monchi" (L) and Aston Villa's Director of Football Operations Damian Vidagany. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)placeholder image
Aston Villa's President of football operations Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo "Monchi" (L) and Aston Villa's Director of Football Operations Damian Vidagany. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) | AFP via Getty Images
Newcastle United have signed Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa for an initial £39million.
Ramsey joined Aston Villa’s academy aged six before going on to make 167 senior appearances after making his debut in 2019.
But due to pressures to comply with PSR and UEFA’s squad cost rules (SCR), Villa have felt the need to cash in on their academy graduate, with Newcastle taking advantage by striking a £39million plus £4m add-ons agreement last Thursday.
The 24-year-old then travelled to Tyneside in the days leading up to the Magpies’ Premier League opener away to Villa to undergo his medical. On Sunday, Ramsey was officially confirmed as a Newcastle player.
Aston Villa chief reacts to Jacob Ramsey’s move to Newcastle United
Last summer, Vidagany spoke to talkSPORT about the financial rules and how it is restricting Aston Villa, which very much relevant to Newcastle United.
“Absolutely [PSR makes it more difficult]. Clubs need rules to stick to, but PSR is making it very complex,” Vidagany said. “The system is forcing clubs to sell their academy players. This is the way to generate profit and comply with the rules, but I think it is killing some of the spirit of football.
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“It’s something that is not natural in football, something that is breaking the cycle. It affects wage inflation, how clubs want to build squads, and forces deals that are not natural to the market. To get the best deals you need time, and PSR is not helping.
“We, as a club, have the ambition to compete among the best. I don’t like the concept of a ‘top six,’ but breaking into that group is very difficult. Clubs with greater resources find it easier to comply with PSR. It feels like an establishment we’re trying to break into, but the system is holding us back.
“We’re lucky to have one of the best managers in the world, who is helping us to overcome these barriers.”
Just hours after confirmation of Ramsey’s exit arrived, Vidagany referred back to those remarks and wrote on X: “One year later, every word rings even truer: we keep fighting this situation to deliver a strong team while complying with PSR and UEFA rules. However difficult it is, we won’t give up. Thanks and good luck, JJ.”
Newcastle United sympathise with Aston Villa
Newcastle sympathise with Villa’s situation, having also been forced to sell an academy graduate of their own when Elliot Anderson joined Nottingham Forest last summer.
They’ve also had similar issues in the transfer market. Prior to this summer, the Magpies had gone three consecutive windows without making a major signing, while selling the likes of Anderson, Yankuba Minteh, Miguel Almiron, Lloyd Kelly and Sean Longstaff.
Jacob Ramsey pens emotional farewell message to Aston Villa
Penning a farewell to Aston Villa on Instagram, it was clear Ramsey shared a lot of sadness over leaving.
He wrote: “It’s impossible to put into words what playing for Aston Villa has meant to me. From being a young fan in the Holte End to living my dream and scoring in front of it.
“This club has been an extended family to me, and I’ve got memories for life - from making my Premier League debut, experiencing Champions League nights back at Villa Park and scoring my first goals in those competitions.
“To everyone at Aston Villa, both at the academy and in the first team, thank you for your support, belief and guidance. You’ve helped me become the person and player I am today. I’ve played with some of the best & made friends for life.
“And finally to the fans - thank you for the love and backing. To represent you, as a boy from Birmingham, has been an absolute honour.Onto the next chapter now, but wish you all nothing but the best in the future. Thank you for everything!!JJ 💜”
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