Aston Villa Loans Defender Yasin Özcan to Anderlecht with Purchase Option

Aston Villa signed 19-year-old Turkish defender Yasin Özcan from Kasimpasa for around €7 million earlier in 2025, but a month after joining Villa Park, he was loaned out to Belgian club RSC Anderlecht with an option to buy. Despite Özcan's versatility and experience—having made over 90 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig and debuting for Turkey's national team—he is not currently in Aston Villa manager Unai Emery's immediate plans. The loan deal is seen as a strategic move by Villa to potentially profit by flipping a young player while complying with financial regulations. Anderlecht, who had previously targeted Özcan's rival Club Bruges, view the loan as a valuable addition to strengthen their defense, with the club's sporting director praising his potential impact. There is some ambiguity about the purchase option's terms, with some reports suggesting it may be high, but Anderlecht appears keen to finalize the deal. Özcan’s loan to Anderlecht provides him an opportunity to gain valuable playing time and develop further before potentially returning to compete in the Premier League.