Player #880 for Aston Villa, Jordan Marcel Gilbert Veretout, known as Jordan Veretout, played as a midfielder for the club in Villa’s Premier League relegation season of 2015-16, making 29 appearances.

Veretout was born in Ancenis, France, on 1 March 1993 and was signed from FC Nantes for €10.00m on 31 July 2015. Veretout was one of a series of controversial signings undertaken ostensibly under the leadership of Tim Sherwood but in truth driven by the sheer idiocy of Sporting Director Hendrik Almstadt and Director of Scouting and Recruitment Paddy Riley. Two names that would be painted into Villa folklore for their footballing illiteracy and ultimate responsibility for Villa’s first relegation in three decades.

Indeed, his arrival was one of several sub-standard Villa signings that maligned the club throughout the 2015-16 campaign and drove Villa to their first relegation in nearly 30 years. Players such as Veretout, as well as Micah Richards, Jordan Ayew, Adama Traoré, Rudy Gestede, Joleon Lescott and José Ángel Crespo were brought to the club despite being nowhere near the standard required to compete in the top-flight.

In fairness to Veretout, unlike some of his fellow newcomers, it wasn’t entirely his fault, and he didn’t display the arrogance and self-entitlement of some of his teammates but he could be described as the French Ashley Westwood: A neat, conservative player but more than a little weak, missing a level of perseverance that had it been displayed would probably have paid dividends, but circumstances dictated otherwise.

Veretout made his debut appearance for Villa on Saturday, 8 August 2015, aged 22, in what would prove to be a rare victory in Villa’s 2015-16 Premier League campaign.

Neat touches and an eye for a pass were positive attributes, but proved little match for the rigours of the Premier League as Tim Sherwood began to develop concerns about the solidity of the team with Veretout playing.

Veretout made five starts and two substitute appearances in twelve games under Tim Sherwood before the latter’s sacking, but his replacement, Rémi Garde, showed greater faith in the young midfielder by naming him in the starting line-up for eleven consecutive Premier League games.

The results, however, were not positive. As Villa Drew, Lost, Lost, Drew, Lost, Drew, Drew, Lost, Lost, Won and Drew with Veretout in the lineup. Whether any midfielder could make the difference in arguably Villa’s worst side in history is a moot point.

Veretout, however, would make another ten appearances under Garde until his own departure from the club after just 23 games in charge.

Garde’s successor, caretaker manager Eric Black, was very much of the Tim Sherwood school of thought and would not select Veretout across his short tenure.

Veretout had made his final appearance for Villa on Saturday, 19 March 2016, aged 23 - Rémi Garde’s final game as Villa boss.

Veretout would be sent out on loan to AS Saint-Étienne for the entire 2016-17 season before being sold to ACF Fiorentina in July 2017 for a fee of €7.00m, aged 24.

Unlike many of his contemporaries from that Villa team, however, Veretout went on to have a career at a high level, playing top-flight, European and International football, something that looked a world away during his time in claret and blue.

Veretout played under Tim Sherwood, Kevin MacDonald, Rémi Garde and Eric Black.