Aston Villa set to recall Iling-Junior from Bologna and send him to Middlesbrough | OneFootball

Aston Villa are set to recall Samuel Iling-Junior from his loan spell with Bologna and send him to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign instead according to the latest updates in Italy.

Iling Junior joined Villa from Juventus in a deal worth €14m plus €3m in bonuses over the summer transfer window. He moved at the same time as Enzo Barrenechea, and around the same time that Douglas Luiz moved in the other direction for a fee of €50m.

The former Chelsea youngster returned to Serie A almost immediately afterwards, joining Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna on loan for the 2024-25 season.

Aston Villa set to recall Iling-Junior and send him to Middlesbrough

BOLOGNA, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Samuel Iling-Junior of Bologna scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 21, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

However, the 21-year-old has not been a regular starter for the Rossoblu this term, having appeared in just eight of the team’s 22 Serie A matches to date. He did chip in with a goal against Como in his first appearance for the club, though.

More recently, he found the net in the club’s surprising 2-1 comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Aston Villa have reportedly been considering ending Iling-Junior’s time with Bologna for several weeks, and now, according to updates form Gianluca Di Marzio, the Villains are set to recall him and send him to Middlesbrough before the close of the January transfer window on Monday.