£500k-a-game flop is not even worst of bunch in five worst Aston Villa signings under Tony Xia
4. Tommy Elphick
Signed from: Bournemouth – Fee (approx): £3million – Appearances: 32
Elphick did not cost anywhere near as much as Hogan did but the centre-back’s performances in the Villa defence were abysmal at times.
The former Brighton defender was handed the captain’s armband by Di Matteo and will go down in infamy at Villa Park for perhaps being the worst captain that they have ever had.
The 30-year-old was a mainstay until he was axed by Bruce and has since just made the odd appearance.
This season, Elphick had played just four times in all competitions before he was loaned out to Reading in the recent January window.
Click below to find out who sits third in our list of Xia’s first worst investments…