Another One Bites the Dust
He was one of Paul Lambert’s first ventures into the transfer market for Aston Villa. Karim El Ahmadi certainly looked good on youtube with his hustling and energetic nature, but that ultimately failed to translate on to the pitch in a Villa shirt.
El Ahmadi never was the midfield presense that Villa cried out for in midfield.
The Moroccan international was a decent chap full of effort but little over average when it came to quality and consistency. Still he managed 51 games for Villa (with three goals).
With the Moroccan international heading to the Africans Nations Cup he would have missed a good few weeks of the last year of his contract.
“He’s in his last year.” said Lambert. “We’d obviously lose him in the African Nations Cup, so it’d make sense going back home.”
With El Ahmadi falling further behind in the Villa midfield pecking order with the new signing of Carlos Sanchez, it’s certainly speeded up his desired return to Dutch football.
“I’ve always said that I wanted to return to Feyenoord sometime,” said El Ahmadi, upon re-joining the Dutch club on a three-year deal. “That time has come.”
We wish him well.
In terms of signings on deadline day Lambert said after the Hull City game: “If we can do one or two lads to come in, then I’d look to do it.” UTV
The Lambert’s Signings Exodus
Loaned out: Sylla, Tonev, Steer, Helenius, Bennett, Luna
Sold: Bowery, El Ahmadi
Failed Loan: Dawkins
Never really rated him in the prem, average on a good day, liability on most others.