Aston Villa might have been vying for three points against Newcastle United at Villa Park, but both clubs are united in their anger at PSR. Both sides sat on 66 points at the end of last season, split only by goal difference, and their struggles in the summer signal how the sport's structure stifles ambitions.
The transfer of Jacob Ramsey between the two clubs refuelled that talking point as a Birmingham boy, who has been living his dream at his boyhood club, has been a makeweight to balance the books.
Pure profit proves decisive in Ramsey’s departure
Ramsey earned his debut for Villa in February 2019 before he went on loan to Doncaster Rovers in the first half of 2020. As the months passed, he gained greater significance for the starting eleven.
His first Premier League goal arrived against **Arsenal**in a 3-1 defeat in October 2021. Between the start of that season and May 2023, he played 69 league matches, scored 12 goals, got 8 assists, earned the club's Player of the Season Award, and was also named the best Academy Graduate in the league.
He was a member of the **England**Under-21 side to win the **European Championships**in 2023, but several foot injuries crippled his minutes and marked the beginning of the end for Ramsey at the club.
Momentum might have stalled for the 24-year-old, but he had not fallen out of favour completely. The attacking midfielder played 29 times in the Premier League last term and featured in ten of twelve games for the Villans in the Champions League, scoring in a historic 3-0 win against Young Boys.
Two teammates, who have been in the squad for his whole senior career, expressed sadness at his exit.
John McGinn moved from **Hibernian**in 2018, the year before Ramsey's debut, and he has been proud to see the young man mature as an excellent example of how to transition into the men's game.
“A perfect example of how an academy player should handle the transition to the first-team. Always humble, respectful and willing to learn. It’s been a privilege to share the dressing room with you.”
He hinted that the departure of the academy graduate last week was not solely a sporting decision.
“Sad day losing a top player and person and one of our own but it seems the way football is set up these days!”
Former club captain Tyrone Mings made the move to the Midlands on loan from **Bournemouth**only weeks before Ramsey earned his first minutes for the first team. He reinforced McGinn's message, mentioning that there are many mitigating factors behind the scenes that the public will never see.
“Don't wanna hear any bad words or anything negative on his name. You don't know the half!”
Newcastle know the feeling, having sold Elliot Anderson for pure profit to Nottingham Forest. He has shone as an all-action midfielder for the Tricky Trees and he stood out on the weekend with Morgan Gibbs-White. Now, the shoe is on the other foot, and this loss for Villa the Toon’s gain.