---
title: "Exclusive: Ex-PL star surprised by Ings transfer"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-ex-pl-star-surprised-by-ings-transfer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Harry Sherlock"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-08-19T13:00:55Z"
modified: "2021-08-19T13:00:55Z"
---

# Exclusive: Ex-PL star surprised by Ings transfer

**Former Premier League player Carlton Palmer was surprised that Danny Ings ended up at Aston Villa in this transfer window.**

The striker completed a shock move to Villa Park in this transfer window after next to no reporting on the deal.

Dean Smith’s side [reportedly](https://www.goal.com/en/news/aston-villa-announce-ings-signing/169ji0gp9j3go1mmxrvbiumd97) paid over £30m to lure him away from St Mary’s, with Ings having rejected a new contract at the club.

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Ings started Villa’s 3-2 defeat to Watford at the weekend and scored his side’s second goal, converting from the penalty spot late on in the game.

Ings had been prolific for Southampton, [scoring 46 goals in 100 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/danny-ings/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/134294) for the club in total. Last season, he netted 12 times in the top-flight in 29 outings.

Palmer is surprised that he ended up at Villa but insists that his exit was a long time coming, having made clear his desire to move on.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, the former England international said: *“It was a shock that he went to Aston Villa but it wasn’t a shock that he was moving. I always felt that there was something in the pipeline.”*