'Medical completed' - Aston Villa close in on first summer signing in blow to Tottenham

Aston Villa are expected to announce their first signing of the summer after Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond completed his medical on Tuesday.

Unai Emery was eager to bring in a new young centre-forward following the success of nurturing Jhon Duran and selling him on for a big profit. Redmond, whose Feyenoord contract expires on June 30, won’t cost a penny in transfer fees and is expected to join up with the Villa youth ranks before breaking through into the first team.

Birmingham World understands personal terms were agreed with Redmond several weeks ago and the Netherlands under-19 international travelled to the West Midlands on Tuesday to complete the formalities of his transfer. Having already passed his medical tests, Redmond will have put pen to paper on a long-term contract, officially joining on July 1.

Albeit one for the future rather than the here and now, Redmond is an exciting addition. Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth are understood to have been tracking the striker, so Villa have inflicted a blow to two of their rivals, all while securing a hot prospect for themselves.

The deal encapsulates the wider philosophy being built at the football club, with Villa keen to foster young talent and gradually introduce them to first-team action. Emery is very good at supporting youngsters in their development and will no doubt have had a say in whether Redmond met his requirements.

Although it’s unlikely he’ll be fielded for many first-team minutes next season, there’s a possibility he could break through sooner than expected. Even if he doesn’t, Redmond will still be in superb hands as Villa are renowned for their excellent youth coaching and facilities – as showcased by last campaign’s FA Youth Cup triumph.

Who is Zepiqueno Redmond?

Amongst Feyenoord’s ranks since 2019, Redmond is an 18-year-old attacker thought to have big potential. He’s primarily a centre forward but has proven throughout his career that he’s also capable of thriving on the left wing when called upon. Redmond has represented the Netherlands at the under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels and has 26 caps in total across all those age groups, with a return of three goals.

He’s also scored 11 in 22 games at under-17 level for Feyenoord and a further 16 goals in 43 matches for the under-18s. He’s made just nine first-team appearances for Feyenoord, scoring two times in a cup game against MVV Maastricht, in a career which has so far seen him only start four professional games. He did, however, make an impression against AC Milan during a 1-1 draw when starting a last-16 play-off fixture in the Champions League.

Overall, Redmond has made nine appearances at first-team level and has caught the eye with his exceptional sprint speed, dribbling ability, and desire to run in behind and stretch opposing defences. He’s a talent who will only add to Villa’s existing up-and-coming forward options, including - but not limited to - Louie Barry and Rory Wilson.

Read on: Aston Villa could complete a shock swap deal with Manchester United this summer to correct issues at both clubs.