Aston Villa have confirmed the re-signing of Blues target Jaden Philogene.

Town agreed a fee of £18 million for the winger early last week with the move looking set to go through until Villa activated a matching clause included in the deal which saw the 22-year-old move to the Tigers for £5 million last summer.

And ultimately the former England U21 international opted for a return to Villa Park, signing a five-year deal.

Due to a 30 per cent sell-on from last year’s switch, Villa are understood to have paid £13 million for the forward, who was also believed to be interesting a number of other clubs, among them Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham and even Barcelona.

“It feels amazing, it’s like I’m back at home,” he told the Villa club site. “[Manager] Unai [Emery] spoke to me face-to-face and we had a very good conversation about my playing time.

“He said I did well when I was here in pre-season last year and that I’m going to get chances this time. It also depends on me and how I play.”

He added: “It’s the latest chapter in my Villa journey and hopefully I can play my best, get game time and do it in front of the fans.

“What I did at Hull, I want to do the same things at Villa Park; make the fans aware of my skills and score goals.

“It’s a dream come true. When I was a little boy I wanted to play in the Champions League. I’ve always thought I want to be there one day and here I am.”

Photo: Sipa USA

DocMartyn added 09:54 - Jul 19 Good luck to him, if he's happy to sit on the bench and wait for his chance.
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Karlosfandangal added 09:56 - Jul 19 Looks like they said the words he wanted to hear…… you will play more but it’s down to you Look I played 200 minutes more than last time and I had 5 mi utes in the Champions League
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Boy_Railey added 09:57 - Jul 19 Now on the same career paths as Hassan Kachloul
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:08 - Jul 19 Old news now we have to move on ,clocks ticking
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cressi added 10:15 - Jul 19 Utterly the opposite of Hutchinson who really does what to play and improve. We have missed a bullet here. His dodgy agent will always be looking for his next move .Hull fans say its all about himself rather score and the team lose then win and play average Not for me.
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trncbluearmy added 10:25 - Jul 19 Quality player, we were very close and for long time looked like the preferred option over some well established prem clubs. But always going to struggle against the draw of top Euro football. Bet we become a bit more weary of the buy back clauses from now on and which club has the option.
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Monkey_Blue added 10:49 - Jul 19 Would have liked to have had him here but looking at it from a non Town fan point of view given he isn’t a Town fan and has absolutely no connection to the club or area… I can see why he picked Villa. If he’s been told he’ll be in with a shot at playing regularly including champions league with Emery as coach who has a good pedigree.
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herfie added 10:55 - Jul 19 Would have been a quality addition, but not to be. Was never convinced we were his first choice option, and therefore better he goes elsewhere. Onwards and upwards with recruitment of players who are busting a gut to play under KM, and where we’re not held to ransome by dodgy agents.
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Ipswich_Sniffer added 10:59 - Jul 19 Stuff him
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Mariner1974 added 11:11 - Jul 19 Agree with Monkey_Blue. I was so excited about him coming here, after last season's performances, and am gutted that we didn't get him, but at the same time Villa are an established Prem team playing Champions League football this season with a manager who plays attacking football. Can't blame the lad for choosing to return there, and feeling that's the right move for him.

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ElvisMariner added 11:13 - Jul 19 Wish him Luck as Villa’s new benchwarmer
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BlueySwede added 11:37 - Jul 19 Good luck, i guess, but I struggle to appreciate players that have agreed a deal and then backs out of it. Maybe it was somewhat out of his hands, what do I know. Many players out there, same quality or better than Philogene, especially for 18m. Just not sure our scouting system abroad is really in place. Certainly feels like one area to improve.
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billlm added 11:48 - Jul 19 Bit part player for them id imagine, if he's serious about his career he should have come here to develop more, at villa he will be under pressure to produce straight away, Moneys killing football paying millions for a player a few months ago you had, that's madness,
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CamposBarnet added 11:55 - Jul 19 Again some of these comments . Lads joined his previous team who he is already familiar with. An established Premier League team playing European Football. Good luck to him. No sour grapes with me. I wish him all the best.
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Gforce added 12:20 - Jul 19 HopefullyJohnson will totally mark him out of the game, that's if he even starts .
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cooper4england added 12:26 - Jul 19 Yep Camposbarnet agree. Gutted not joining us going to a bigger team FACT. only issue is the buyback clauses are bullocks. Bid like the rest of us.
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KMcBlue added 13:27 - Jul 19 My Hull fan mates say he lacks end product and doesn't like defending- so move on without regrets
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Edmundo added 13:27 - Jul 19 Feels like we hot played for the first time in a while. Hull got a formal offer from us, and then took it to Villa to make sure they got the deal. On the other hand, we got Greaves, who is definitely more important for our immediate success.
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SpiritOfJohn added 13:38 - Jul 19 I bet Villa wish they had loaned him to Hull - that decision just cost them around £13 million. Nice one!
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oldelsworthyfan added 13:44 - Jul 19 Did he really have much choice?
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MickMillsTash added 13:58 - Jul 19 We do not know if he was told to run back and defend - one of the improvements that hutchinson made last year was his willingness to get back into shape Hopefully we have a buy back on Kayden Jackson when the 20Mill bids start rolling in for him next summer
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bringmeaKuqi added 14:02 - Jul 19 I think we should take with a pinch of salt what other fans think about their players – particularly when they say things like they lack end product or can't defend. How many Leicester fans would have said Hirst lacked end product? Or Barnsley fans about Chaplin? Or Fleetwood fans about Burns, Everton fans about Broadhead etc etc. All those players have had their best goals-per-game return with us. McKenna coaches players how to have an end product. If we're in the market for someone who has lacked end product elsewhere you can be almost certain they will be more impactful with us. Totally understand Philogene's decision. We can't compete with what Villa can offer now. But I'm also totally certain we would have made him a far better player than he was at Hull

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jayceee added 14:58 - Jul 19 Honestly can't tell if it's a bullet dodged, or a shame Villa went back in for him. Can't blame him for wanting to play in Europe and for wanting to go back to a familiar club, but at the same time feels like we've been done a dirty - which I know is an irrational feeling... A part of me thinks that if he had come here, it could have lacked 100% commitment and could have spread amongst some of our other players. Again, an irrational conclusion, but can't help thinking it. We've seen an uglier side of football we've just not seen for such a while - perhaps I just need to toughen up, lol.

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Linkboy13 added 15:29 - Jul 19 The usual pathetic sour grapes remarks on here when a player doesn't sign for us grow up. Once Villa came in for him the lad had no choice in the matter. His stats last season are actually better than Hutchinson's in an inferior team. Good luck to the lad no bad feelings on my part.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 15:55 - Jul 19 Just because a player opts to join another club when we had hoped he would join us, doesn't make him a chafer. He's no Kachloul or Crook as he never agreed to sign for us verbally even. I wish him no ill will except when he lines up against us.
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