Eyebrows were raised when Samuel Iling-Junior returned to Italy shortly after joining Aston Villa this summer, but the Chelsea academy graduate is determined to secure his place in Unai Emery’s squad.
The 21-year-old winger left London in 2020 to join Juventus and made a £11.6m return to England this summer, transitioning alongside teammate Enzo Barrenechea, while Douglas Luiz headed to Turin. Just two months after signing a five-year contract, Iling-Junior was loaned to Bologna for the season.
Despite a brief stint in England, he feels optimistic about his future at Villa following a positive negotiation experience that made him feel valued. “You always want to feel wanted and have conversations with the people around you,” he expressed. “Aston Villa made me feel that way.”
When asked if a loan move had always been on the table, he indicated, “Not necessarily, but towards the end, yeah.” His pre-season play, totaling 185 minutes in matches against teams like Walsall and RB Leipzig, helped Emery assess his fit in the squad.
Iling-Junior emphasized the importance of career progression, stating, “I could have had another year where I was coming off the bench and not getting as many minutes as I would like. So I spoke to the coach, and we decided it was best for me to go on loan.”
He enjoyed support from close friend Jude Bellingham, a former Birmingham City talent who moved to Borussia Dortmund and then Real Madrid. Iling-Junior shared, “We had a little conversation in the summer, and he said anything in Birmingham, just give him a call.”
His Villa teammate, Morgan Rogers, reached out immediately when news of a swap deal emerged, saying, “When he heard the news, he messaged me straight away and asked me what was going on.” Rogers has made impressive strides after joining Villa last January, making 26 appearances and establishing himself as a key player under Emery, a path Iling-Junior aspires to mirror.
The young talent aims to carve out his own niche at Villa Park, noting, “Two different pathways but both made it into the Aston Villa team – and I’m looking to join them soon as well.”
As he embarks on his loan with Bologna, Iling-Junior finds himself in a unique position, facing Villa in the Champions League while on loan. He assured fans he would maintain professionalism, saying, “Definitely not,” regarding any potential celebration for a goal, adding that he aims to seize the opportunity to showcase his skills to the fans.
Even though he’s temporarily away, Iling-Junior remains a versatile prospect for Villa, capable of playing multiple positions amid a spate of injuries affecting key players. “I see myself playing on the right, left, or even left back,” he explained. “Playing new positions at a high level has put me in a better position.”
As he prepares for his continued journey, one thing remains clear: Samuel Iling-Junior is committed to making a significant impact in the claret and blue colors of Aston Villa.
