Aston Villa announced new signing Mohamed Kone earlier this morning – leaving some fans scratching their heads.
The club confirmed they had landed the promising 18-year-old on a five-year contract to ply his trade with the Premier League club’s under 21 outfit this season and beyond.
On paper it looked to be a solid signing as part of the Villans’ relationship with ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast and he has been working with coach Jimmy Shan’s squad for a number of weeks.
That came amid an unspectacular transfer window for Villa’s first-team.
Kone was previously pictured wearing Villa gear during outings for the 21s having played trial matches for the young squad throughout the summer.
But it is only now – October 2 and a full month after the transfer window closed – that the player has been announced officially as their new recruit.
Aston Villa announce Mohamed Kone transfer
Villa explained in a statement posted this morning how the player had attracted “many admirers” but that they had landed the highly-rated Ivorian under 20s international.
But why did it take so long for the club to share the announcement? Did Kone sign outside of the window? If so, how?
The truth is that the midfielder joined the club earlier in the summer and has been playing throughout the last number of weeks after winning his deal following a trial stint.
On Wednesday night, the playmaker scored his first competitive goal against Peterborough United in the Vertu Trophy.
A delayed unveiling? Absolutely. But certainly nothing untoward.
As part of the agreement to sign the youngster, Villa have invited ASEC Mimosas to play games in the UK as well as to Cairo for tournaments at their partner club there, ZED FC.
What Aston Villa said about Kone
Their official club announcement earlier today read: “Aston Villa is pleased to announce the signing of Mohamed Koné from ASEC Mimosas.
“A highly-rated midfielder who has attracted plenty of admirers, Koné joins from one of the leading clubs and academies in Ivory Coast.
“ASEC Mimosas have produced several high-profile players over the years including the likes of Yaya and Kolo Touré and more recently Odilon Kossounou, Karim Konaté and Touré Bazoumana.
“An Under-20 and Under-23 international for his country, Koné graduated from the ASEC’s MimoSifcom Academy and then became a part of the ASEC first team at the age of just 17.
“Kone spent a number of weeks at Bodymoor Heath prior to joining the club officially in the summer and he has been playing with the Aston Villa Under-21s team since the start of this season, recently scoring his first competitive goal against Peterborough United in the Vertu Trophy.
“Mohamed’s move to Villa is a symbol of the close relationship between Aston Villa and ASEC and signals the start of a productive relationship.
“As part of this ongoing relationship, the Club have also invited ASEC to play matches in the UK as well as to Cairo for tournaments at our partner club, ZED FC.”
