Tiago Ilori will spend yet another season away from Anfield.
Liverpool loaned Ilori to Aston Villa on Tuesday for the rest of 2015-16, the Reds announced on their website. Ilori will join the Premier League club with hopes of kick-starting his career in English soccer.
Ilori joined Liverpool from Sporting Lisbon in summer 2013 but failed to play a single competitive game for the Reds. Liverpool loaned him to Spanish club Granada and French club Bordeaux in 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively, but he didn’t show enough progress to convince manager Brendan Rodgers to retain him this season.
The Times’ Tony Barrett and The Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce report Aston Villa can buy Ilori, 22, outright at the end of the season.
Ilori to Aston Villa also a done deal. A one year loan with Villa having the option to sign the defender on a permanent basis.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) September 1, 2015
Tiago Ilori loan move from #LFC to Villa confirmed. £1m loan fee and Villa can buy him next summer for £6m to £9m depending on appearances
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) September 1, 2015
Ilori will compete with Micah Richards, Jores Okore, Ciaran Clark and Joleon Lescott for playing time at center back.
Time will tell whether Ilori ever returns to Anfield or his Liverpool career effectively ends here on transfer deadline day.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@jacklusby_
