€15m market value
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So far in this summer transfer window it seems as though a top young winger is on a lot of club’s shortlists. One player who has been linked with a whole host of clubs is Hull City’s 21-year-old winger Jaden Philogene. Signed from Aston Villa for €5.8 million last summer, he scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 32 games in the Championship last season, as the Tigers just missed out on the play-offs. Already this summer, he has been linked with Everton, Ipswich, Barcelona, Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
Whilst Suffolk and Merseyside might not have the appeal of Barcelona, the options look pretty open right now for Philogene. However on Thursday Fabrizio Romano claimed his move to Barcelona was now looking complicated and unlikely, as the player was giving priority to a Premier League move, and on Friday Philogene himself said, “I chose the Premier League because it is the clearest offer I have, but my dream is still La Liga. Barça is my dream, I hope I can sign for them one day. My idols are Ronaldinho and Neymar.” So right now that leaves the current favourites for his signature as Ipswich, but with Everton and Crystal Palace both still reportedly working on a deal. So just what kind of player is Philogene?
Jaden Philogene’s journey so far
Last season, Philogene’s public profile was perhaps raised most after Hull’s 2-1 win against Rotherham. In that particular match, he scored a sensationally aesthetic goal, as he nutmegged the opposing defender, before putting a ‘rabona’ finish into the top corner. The clip went viral, as fans were waxing lyrical about the magical goal. And it’s that kind of quality that has made him one of the most sought after young talents this summer. A player capable of getting you off your seat, he was one of the Championship’s most exciting attackers last campaign.
The English second-tier is a league Philogene had got to know quite well. A youth product at Aston Villa, he had loan spells at both Stoke City and Cardiff City in the Championship, before he made the permanent move to Hull. In his four seasons as a professional at Villa, he made just six appearances, but the Midlands club will likely now regret letting him go for a fee as cheap as €5.8m. When he arrived at Hull his market value was just €2.8m. Less than 12 months later he boasts a value of €15m.
Philogene’s first season as a Hull player was slightly disrupted by a knee injury in December. Before that he had 12 direct goal involvements in 14 games, and he still managed to finish the season with the most combined goals and assists in the entire Hull squad. The Championship’s loss will be the Premier League’s gain, and if he can continue to develop at the same rate he did last season, Philogene may be heading right for the top. Maybe one day his beloved Barcelona.