A £17m bet in 2020 that lit up Villa Park
When Aston Villa brought in Bertrand Traoré from Lyon in September 2020 for around £17 million, the plan was bold and clear: add a direct, left‑footed winger who could break lines and score from the right. He had already shown flashes at Chelsea’s academy, impressed on loan at Vitesse and Ajax, and put up numbers in Ligue 1. Villa were building a front line with pace and punch. Traoré fit the brief.
His first season in claret and blue had real highlights. The stepovers, the quick first touch inside, the shots bent into the far corner — they all showed up. He produced big moments, including a standout finish in a dominant win at Arsenal in November 2020. He looked like a difference-maker, the kind of winger who could help Villa turn tight games.
Then came the grind. Injuries interrupted rhythm, managers changed, and the system shifted. He featured, then faded, then fought back. A short loan to İstanbul Başakşehir in early 2023 offered minutes but not a reset. By early 2024, with Unai Emery driving Villa toward a defined identity and a crowded attacking unit, both sides agreed a clean break was best.
A winding route: Villarreal, Ajax, and a 2025 switch to Sunderland
February 2024 brought a mutual parting of ways and a short-term deal at Villarreal. Spain gave him game time, and Villarreal got an experienced wide player for the run-in. It was a practical move, and it kept him in a top league. Later that year, he headed back to Ajax — a familiar stop from his earlier loan days — for another bite at Dutch football and a chance to reset in a league that suits attacking wingers.
Now, in 2025, Traoré has signed for Sunderland. On Wearside, the fit is obvious on paper. He’s a natural right winger who drives inside onto his left foot, which suits a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Sunderland get a ball-carrier who can break a press, a set-piece option, and someone who can score from range. The question is consistency: can he stay fit, get a run of starts, and convert his flashes into a steady stream of goals and assists?
For the player, this move offers something he hasn’t had in a while — a stable runway. Regular minutes, clear role, and responsibility. For Sunderland, it’s a smart swing on a player with Premier League and European experience without paying Premier League money. If the partnership clicks, it gives their attack a sharper edge and more threat between the lines.
His international work with Burkina Faso still matters here. He’s shown up in high-pressure tournament games, handled physical duels, and carried creative duties for his country. That experience tends to translate in the Championship, where decision-making speed and toughness matter as much as flair.
How did we get here? A quick timeline helps:
- 2014–2017: Chelsea prospect; loans to Vitesse and Ajax sharpen his top-flight readiness.
- 2017–2020: Lyon signing; becomes a dangerous wide forward in Ligue 1 and Europe.
- Sept 2020: Joins Aston Villa for about £17m; delivers eye-catching moments in his first season.
- 2023: Loan to İstanbul Başakşehir to chase minutes and form.
- Feb 2024: Leaves Villa by mutual consent; signs short-term with Villarreal.
- Late 2024: Moves to Ajax, revisiting a club and league he knows well.
- 2025: Signs for Sunderland, aiming for a fresh run and a bigger role.
What should Sunderland fans expect? Quick diagonal runs from the touchline into the half-space. Shots curled to the far post. A winger who will take on defenders rather than recycle the ball. He can frustrate when he tries the difficult option too often, but when he’s on song, he tilts the field. Give him a clear remit, a steady supply line from midfield, and overlapping help from the right-back, and he’ll create chances.
For Villa, that 2020 outlay still made sense at the time. The club were aggressive in the market, chasing upside and depth. Traoré gave them a different profile and produced real moments. As the squad evolved under Emery, the pathway narrowed — a common story at ambitious clubs where speed of change is a feature, not a bug.
For the player, this next chapter is simple: stay fit, play week in, week out, and be decisive in the final third. If he does that, Sunderland have a signing who can swing games — and a reminder that careers aren’t straight lines, even for the most gifted wingers.
