Defender reveals on Instagram he is quitting Aston Villa

By Matt Bullin

Aston Villa left-back Tom Leggett has announced he is leaving the club with a message on his personal Instagram account.

The exit comes depspite the fact the 21-year-old has been a regular in Villa's Under-23s Premier League 2 campaign this term, making 22 appearances.

The defender scored in the 3-3 draw with Fulham in December, and provided an assist in November's 4-2 win over Stoke.

Leggett had been at the club for three years, since arriving from Southampton in 2014, and made more than 50 appearances in Premier League 2 for them.

He had previously been Under-18s captain at Villa Park, before making the jump to the Under-23s, where he also captained the side on several occasions.

In a post on his personal Instagram account, Leggett wrote: "Loved my time at villa! Met some great people and friends! Time to move on to a new chapter. Looking forward to see where it takes me."

Despite training with the first team this season the 21-year-old becomes the latest victim of Steve Bruce's brutal cull of the club's youngsters which has also seen four other Under-23s regulars released in recent weeks.

Joe Linley announced he was leaving on Thursday, while Jerell Sellars left the club after five years earlier this week and Rory Hale left the week before.

The exits come after Bruce had revealed to the Birmingham Mail that he would look to offload “12 or 13” players this summer as he aims to overhaul his squad.

John Abdoul has also left the club, and the Birmingham Mail reports more exits are imminent.

In other Aston Villa news, David Prutton has delivered his verdict on the club’s season.

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