[ad_pod ]This article is part ofÂFootball FanCast’sÂTransfer FocusÂseries, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…Aston Villa have announced that they have agreed to terminate Birkir Bjarnason’s contract so he can pursue a move elsewhere without any restriction as the transfer deadline was rapidly closing on any potential deals.
What’s the word?
After a two year spell at the club, Bjarnason has left Villa Park on a free transfer.
The Iceland international joined the West Midlands club in 2017 for £1.7m from Basel and went on to make 54 appearances, scoring six goals and laying on three assists.
However, he was limited for game time in their promotion-winning campaign, being restricted to just 11 starts.
As such, it now appears as though he’s been able to leave the club.
Inevitable departure
As summer progressed, it seemed more and more likely that some form of departure was going to happen in midfield.
The trio of Conor Hourihane, John McGinn and Jack Grealish were the regular choice during the course of last season and since then, manager Dean Smith has added Douglas Luiz from Manchester City for £15m and Club Brugge’s Marvelous Nakama for £11m. He joined his former teammate and Villa’s club-record signing Wesley Moraes.
Bjarnason featured in a bit-part role during pre-season but that was before the addition of the two aforementioned players and it was very unlikely that the 31-year-old would even make the bench in this upcoming campaign.
Therefore time was always running out for Bjarnason and instead of simply selling him – in some part down to the transfer window coming to a close – his manager has acknowledged his professionalism and attitude whilst in a claret and blue shirt to allow him to go freely.
This feels an amicable parting of ways for a player who has been quite happy to get on with his football.
The departure is unlikely to have much of an impact on the club.
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