Aston Villa have confirmed the season-long loan exit of Alex Moreno to Nottingham Forest, while a summer signing is reportedly already considering his future as he may be surplus to requirements.
Moreno joined Villa for £13.3m just over 18 months ago from Real Betis, as he competed with fellow left-back Lucas Digne for a starting spot in Unai Emery’s starting XI.
At the time of his arrival, Emery said: “Alex is a good player that can help our squad. He has been one of the top left-backs in La Liga over the past few seasons and we are delighted to have him here.”
The former Rayo Vallecano star has since made 48 appearances for the Villans, scoring three goals along the way. Fast forward to the present, though, and he is no longer first choice at Villa Park.
The 31-year-old, who still has two years left on his current contract, was linked with a summer exit, with the West Midlands outfit valuing him at upwards of £15m.
Forest secure Moreno’s services
Then, Premier League rivals Forest came calling and on Wednesday, the Spaniard joined the Tricky Trees for the 2024/25 campaign, with the club having an option to make the move permanent next year.
Forest’s Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson said on the move: “Alex is a player we have had a long-standing interest in so we are naturally all very happy to see him arrive at Nottingham Forest today.
“He has amassed significant experience in La Liga and the Premier League, and he brings all of that quality and experience to our group now.”
While Moreno may have played his last game for Villa, with the experienced defender potentially making his debut for Forest away to Southampton on Saturday, another Emery player may not get the chance to play for the club for a while yet – if at all.