Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Ritchie De Laet's Aston Villa career is over.

The Belgian defender has joined Australian A-League club Melbourne City on a season-long loan.

By the time he completes his spell Down Under, his claret and blue contract will have expired.

De Laet didn't play a single Championship minute this season, despite featuring heavily in pre-season.

He did complete the full 90 minutes in both the Carabao Cup ties against Yeovil Town and Burton Albion but failed to nail down a regular role in Steve Bruce's team.

The 29-year-old tasted promotion from the Championship with Leicester City in 2014 and on loan at Middlesbrough in 2016.

He was signed by Roberto Di Matteo in the summer of 2016 to try to help Aston Villa do likewise - but since then it hasn't exactly gone according to plan for the versatile Belgian.

A severe knee injury halted his claret and blue career, while a broken arm was a further setback.

De Laet returned to his native land for a loan spell at former club Royal Antwerp last season - and has now moved to Melbourne City.

Here's the story of De Laet's time at Villa:

What Steve Bruce said

Bruce explained why he was prepared to let De Laet go, insisting it was because Villa have plenty of right-backs and needed to make a wagebill saving because of Financial Fair Play restrictions.

"It's been a frustratingly disappointing time for Ritchie," said Bruce. "As we know he suffered a serous injury in his third game here.

"I think with the people Ive got at right-back back when I think of Ahmed Elmohamady, James Bree, Alan Hutton, then it was only right I let him get on with his career.

"We would like transfer fees for some of this loans, but that wasn't possible. However, it's another one off the wagebill which, as I keep saying, with Financial Fair Play we have to adhere to."

What De Laet said

De Laet has sent a message to Villa fans.

On Twitter, he wrote: "I also want to thank everyone AVFCOfficial had my ups and downs with injury and never really got going but what a fantastic club it is with a great fan base and a good bunch of lads as well.

"Wishing you all the best for the season UTV."

He is linking up with his former Manchester United coach Warren Joyce in Melbourne.

De Laet said: “I’m excited to join a club like Melbourne City with big ambitions, that plays attractive football and has a very strong coaching group, led by a coach I know well, Warren Joyce.

“I enjoyed playing under Warren earlier in my career. He’s a coach that’s always looking help improve players and demands hard work.

“I’m looking forward to getting out in front of the fans and helping contribute to the team this year.”

Villa career summed up

De Laet has completed 791 minutes on the pitch for Aston Villa since his transfer from Leicester in 2016.

After arriving just after the beginning of Villa's Championship mission on August 23 2016 he started three matches at right-back.

But he was knocked out of stride by a cruciate ligament injury suffered during a draw with Brentford at Villa Park.

He didn't feature at all in the rest of the 16/17 season and struggled to reclaim his position in a squad with no shortage of right-backs.

He played 63 minutes of Villa's third game of the 2017-18 season against Reading but then had to wait nine more games for his next opportunity, coming on for the last nine minutes against Fulham.

De Laet made three further substitute appearances in the whole of the 2017/18 campaign, ending the season back home with a loan spell at his former club, Royal Antwerp.

During his time at Villa, the club have had plenty of number twos. Alan Hutton, Ahmed Elmohamady, Axel Tuanzebe and James Bree have tended to be in front of De Laet in the queue for a right-back role.

poll loading How would you grade Ritchie De Laet's Aston Villa career? 0+ VOTES SO FAR A B C D E

What he has said when he signed

Upon signing for the club, De Laet said: "I'm very happy. Obviously Villa's a big club and I wasn't getting my football so I think the best place to come for me is a big club in Villa and to play football for this club.

"I didn't need a lot of persuading to be fair, Villa's a big club and you don't have to think twice when a club like that comes in for you.

"A club like Villa shouldn't be in the Championship but we are now and it's up to the players and the staff to get this club back to where it belongs."

At the end of August, De Laet responded to a fan who asked on Twitter if he was injured.

"No not injured just waiting to get a chance," he said.

What the Villa boss has said previously

(Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

When De Laet began his return from injury, Villa's manager Steve Bruce had this to say:

"It was good to see Ritchie back out there on the pitch. He's been out for 10 or 11 months.

"He's done everything in pre-season and I thought he was ready for the game and I thought he did okay.

"Ritchie has trained all pre-season. Unfortunately he got a break in his arm.

"His knee's okay, so in that respect I wanted to see him play."

Life before Villa

De Laet began his career at Royal Antwerp FC in Belgium, where he came through the youth academy.

He then moved to Stoke City in 2007 in a deal worth £135 thousand.

He had a loan spell at Wrexham in 2008 before joining Manchester United in 2009 for £225,000.

Whilst at United, De Laet was sent on loan to Sheffield United, Preston North End, Portsmouth, and Norwich before eventually joining Leicester City for £1.1 million in 2012.

Four years later De Laet was loaned to Middlesbrough in a season which saw him gain promotion to the Premier League with Boro and receive a Premier League winners medal with Leicester.

In August 2016, he joined Villa due to a lack of game time at Leicester, for a reported £2 million transfer fee, but it was to end in disappointment.