“I didn’t want to go to Aston Villa, but It was probably the best move I ever made in my life, Villa was the first time I felt like a professional footballer”- Man City star says joining Aston Villa on loan was best move in career

Aston Villa are a very desirable club to play for at the moment. The Villans are in the Champions League and they have one of the best managers in the world in their dugout.

However, this hasn’t always been the case at Villa Park. Cast your mind back 15 or so years and Villa’s decline was just beginning under the ownership of Randy Lerner.

Kyle Walker joined Aston Villa on loan around that time, and speaking on his podcast, the defender has admitted that he never actually wanted to make this move, but, ultimately, he says it proved to be one of the best decisions of his career.

Walker spoke about his move to Villa Park on loan.

“Yeah. I didn’t actually want to go to Aston Villa. But my agent said I had to go and play Premier League football. It was probably the best move I ever made in my life. The manager, sadly he has passed away now, and he said everytime I can play you, I will play you. I settled really quickly. Villa was the first time I felt like a professional footballer,” Walker said.

Kyle Walker may be a £50m superstar these days, but, once upon a time, he was a raw talent who wasn’t ready to get a game for Spurs.

Tottenham knew that Walker needed experience, and these loans were huge for the eventual England international. Walker speaks highly of Gerard Houllier, and it shouldn’t be underestimated just how important this loan spell at Villa was for Walker’s development and his career.

Walker might not be the player he is today if he didn’t go on loan to Aston Villa all those years ago.