I am returning for good. Cameron Archer made a statement about his…
Unai Emery has stated that Cameron Archer will return to Aston Villa after Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League.
Villa are compelled to buy Archer back despite selling him for £18.5 million last summer, implying that the Blades paid a reasonable loan price for the striker. Emery gave Archer a chance to shine in pre-season after winning the European U21 Championship with England in July, and he appeared in all three of the club’s Premier League Summer Series friendlies in the United States.
He scored 11 goals in 20 Championship games for Middlesbrough last season, following a successful stint in the second division with Preston North End in 2022/23. The 22-year-old has four goals in 29 Sheffield United appearances this season, including a December match against Villa, before Nicolo Zaniolo equalised in the 97th minute at the Holte End.
Asked to confirm if Archer was returning, Emery said: “Yes at the beginning he’s coming back. We are analysing [players] and we are going to meet with (owners) Nassef (Sawiris) and Wes Edens).
“We will strive to carefully assess each situation and make the best decision for each player.
“When we end the season entirely on Sunday, we will sit down with the club, Monchi, Damian (Vidagany), myself, and Wes Edens, and make decisions. We haven’t decided if each of them will join us in the future or not.”
Villa is investing in their academy to develop players capable of playing in the first team or being sold for a ‘pure profit’. The club’s academy won the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time since 1985 on Wednesday night, defeating Racing Club Warwick 9-0 at Villa Park.
