Ashley Young is a Villan once again after signing a one-year deal with the club.
The 35-year-old became a fans' favourite as a skilful winger during four seasons in B6 until he departed in 2011, and he returns having helped Inter Milan win Serie A last term.
Here, we take a look at his career so far…
Breaking through at Watford
Young made over 100 appearances for Watford, helped the club into the Premier League and scored plenty of goals as he made a name for himself in professional football, but the Hornets were prepared to let him go as a 16-year-old.
After being spotted at grassroots level and taken on at Watford as a 10-year-old, amid interest from Cambridge, the club told Young he could look elsewhere after deciding against offering him a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) contract when he was 16.
Young stayed on at Watford part-time and, spurred on by the rejection, he earned a professional deal. A senior debut followed in September 2003, aged 18, marking a 14-minute cameo against Millwall with a goal.
Four more substitute league appearances followed that season before he made a major breakthrough in 2004/05, playing 34 games in the Championship. Promotion was achieved the next season, with Young netting 14 league goals, before a move to Villa went through in January 2007.
Shining at Villa
Young had scored three goals in 20 Premier League games for Watford before the Hornets reluctantly let their young starlet join Villa mid-season.
A goal on debut against Newcastle United at St James’ Park set the tone for his spell in the midlands, with a first senior England call-up and a place in the Premier League Team of the Year following in his first full season in 2007/08.
Goals and assists flowed as consecutive sixth-placed finishes were secured in 2008/09 and 2009/10, with UEFA Cup games, a Young Players of the Season award, Premier League Player of the Month awards and a run to the League Cup final mixed in.
His final season at Villa Park totalled nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions before Manchester United came calling for him in June 2011.
Medals in Manchester
Young collected a medal in his first match for the Red Devils, helping them beat Manchester City in the Community Shield, but they were pipped to the title in his first season by their city rivals courtesy of Sergio Aguero’s last-minute goal against QPR on a dramatic final day.
The winger did capture his first league title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season as manager in 2012/13, playing 19 times along the way. When Ferguson retired, Young played under a further five managers – including caretaker boss Ryan Giggs – in his time at United.
During that time, Young picked up FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League winners' medals to bolster his impressive CV.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made him club captain at the start of the 2019/20 season, but by January he was on his way to Italy to join Inter Milan.
Scudetto Success
Young started the title party at the San Siro in what proved to be his final game for Inter in May, opening the scoring as they beat Udinese 5-1 to round off a dream season.
The club had won the championship for the first time in 11 years, with Young becoming only the third English player to win Serie A.
It capped a tremendous 18 months at the club, which saw him make 59 appearances for the Nerazzurri.
International Recognition
After winning 10 England Under-21 caps, Young’s breakthrough into the senior side came 10 months into his first spell at Villa when Steve McClaren handed him his debut against Austria.
He went onto feature heavily in 2012 European Championships qualifying and started all four matches for his country as England lost to Italy at Euro 2012. However, a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in 2013 would be his last game for England for four years.
Gareth Southgate eventually ended his exile and the wide man’s international resurgence was complete as Young impressed in helping England reach the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, starting five matches as the Three Lions eventually lost out to Croatia after extra-time to end a memorable run in Russia.
