£500k-a-game flop is not even worst of bunch in five worst Aston Villa signings under Tony Xia
3. Pierluigi Gollini
Signed from: Hellas Verona – Fee (approx): £4.1million – Appearances: 20
He spent his youth career with Fiorentina and Manchester United before a breakthrough season at Hellas Verona meant that Aston Villa were willing to give Gollini a second chance back in England.
£4.1million was a lot of money for a Championship team to spend on a goalkeeper, but Xia was more than willing to allow Di Matteo to raid his home nation for a man to play between the sticks following Brad Guzan’s exit.
Gollini was terrible though and was pretty much axed from the first team as soon as Bruce stepped through the door at Villa Park.
Sam Johnstone was signed on loan from Man United and is perhaps the best goalkeeper that Villa have had since Brad Friedel.
Gollini was sent out on an 18-month loan to Atalanta in Serie A, where he has played just 10 times in over a year.
Click below to find out who sits second in our list of Xia’s first worst investments…