Zion Suzuki is a top Aston Villa signing and better suits their transformed playing style than sold star

Aston Villa's new number one Zion Suzuki is already proving that he has the potential to become one of the Premier League's leading goalkeepers.

The Japan international arrived from Parma in the summer with huge boots to fill, but he has excelled since taking over from Emiliano Martinez between the posts.

The veteran Argentine was finally sold to Chelsea, after several seasons of sustained links with a move away, and many instances where he had pushed to leave Villa Park.

Unai Emery and Co. could easily be forgiven for rueing their loss of a World Cup-winning shot-stopper, but instead, they have secured a replacement who could take them to the next level.

Suzuki has excelled in his early weeks in the role, and he has added a completely different dimension to the way that Villa can play.

The 24-year-old clearly has a huge future ahead of him and has the potential to be Villa's starter for many years to come.

Zion Suzuki's distribution dwarfs Emi Martinez

Suzuki was an expensive buy for Villa in the context of their recent windows at £30million, but he looks likely to provide excellent value for money long-term.

The gloveman has already proven himself to be a reliable presence with his hands, but his performances so far this season have also showcased his ability with his feet.

Match of the Day analysed how Suzuki's arrival has changed Villa's approach with the ball, with a Villa fan then sharing the stats that they used on X.

Suzuki has played over 48 per cent of his passes long so far this season, compared to Martinez's tally of 40 per cent last term.

However, the most striking figure is Suzuki's number of passes into the final third per 90 minutes, which currently stands at a staggering 11.

That is more than double Martinez's tally from last term, and adds another string to the team's bow, given that they have a goalkeeper who is capable of getting them from back to front quickly and with high accuracy.

Suzuki appears to be a very strong signing for Villa, and he is arguably already helping them to forget all about Martinez.

Ex-employee reveals latest Unai Emery decision that fans will 'love'

Former Villa chief executive Keith Wyness recently told Football Insider that fans will "love" the fact that Villa are heading for a training camp in Spain during the international break.

Emery's men are set to face Sevilla on 2 October as part of their autumn refresh, while several members of their squad are away representing their countries.

However, Wyness believes that the camp may prove to be "mild overkill" on the players who weren't called up.

Nevertheless, he feels that Emery was the main driver behind the decision to take the group away, and added that it was good to see the club backing that call financially.