---
title: "Aston Villa: Pete O’Rourke says Leon Baily will be ‘like a new signing’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-leon-bailey-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-07-18T11:15:41Z"
modified: "2022-07-18T11:15:41Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Pete O’Rourke says Leon Baily will be ‘like a new signing’

**Reputable journalist Pete O’Rourke has delivered his verdict on what Leon Bailey could offer to [Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) next season.**

### The lowdown: Bailey’s frustrating first year at Villa

Signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £25m last summer ([BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58084505)), the winger struggled to make the desired impact at Villa Park due to persistent injury issues which saw the flying Jamaican miss [nine games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/verletzungen/spieler/387626) with a thigh problem.

The 24-year-old arrived in the Midlands having directly contributed to [65 goals in 156 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/387626) for Leverkusen and made a dream start to life as a Villan with an [assist on his debut](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/watford-fc_aston-villa/index/spielbericht/3583485) against Watford in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/).

However, despite only managing [754 minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/387626/verein/405) of action in the top flight last term, one well-informed onlooker has suggested that Steven Gerrard could essentially view Bailey as a fresh addition to the ranks ahead of the 2022/23 campaign…

### The latest: ‘Like a new signing’

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88034111-aston-villa-25m-star-could-be-like-new-signing-for-gerrard-at-villa-park), O’Rourke has claimed that the [17-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/nationalmannschaft/spieler/387626/verein_id/3671) Jamaica dynamo can still be a ‘top performer’ for Aston Villa next term.

He said: “Leon Bailey did arrive with a lot of expectation on his shoulders after that big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen.

“Fitness issues prevented Villa fans from seeing the best of him, but I’m sure he will be hungry to prove a point this season and can show he can be a top performer for Aston Villa because he’s definitely got it in him, and he could almost be like a new signing for Villa if he goes and hits the ground running.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398332″\]

### The verdict: Tough ask

After completing the [permanent capture](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/may/12/villa-announce-philippe-coutinho-signing/) of Philippe Coutinho, Gerrard is blessed with options in the [wide areas](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kader/verein/405), with Emiliano Buendia, Bertrand Traore and youth prospect Jaden Philogene-Bidace all at the manager’s disposal.

However, there can be little doubt that, at peak form and fitness, Bailey – who was described as an [‘explosive winger’](https://twitter.com/FTalentScout/status/1177629325857828864) by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – can force his way into the 42-year-old’s plans and, most importantly, stay there.

\[freshpress-poll id=”373967″\]

Last season, the versatile [£22.5m-valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/marktwertverlauf/spieler/387626) Jamaican [scored once and provided two assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leon-bailey/leistungsdaten/spieler/387626/plus/0?saison=2021) in 18 appearances for the Midlands club in what was a stop-start first season in England for the attacker.

Sharing similar stylistic traits with the likes of Sevilla ace Lucas Ocampos, Lille sensation Timothy Weah and Everton forward Demarai Grey ([FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/3a233281/Leon-Bailey)) and possessing many of the requisite attacking attributes to succeed as an elite-level winger ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/327682/Show/Leon-Bailey)), Bailey could yet have a huge influence on Gerrard’s side.