Aston Villa confirm Archer return following Sheffield United relegation

Cameron Archer returned to pre-season training with Aston Villa on Thursday, less than a year after leaving the club in an £18m switch to Sheffield United.

The deal to take Archer to Bramall Lane last summer was a unique one, in that Sheffield United only paid a small instalment of the £18m up front, and agreed to return the forward to Villa if they were relegated from the Premier League, making it essentially a loan fee if they failed to stay up.

The Blades did go down, with Archer scoring four goals in 32 appearances last term, and now the 22-year-old is back for pre-season at Bodymoor Heath, with Villa expected to try and move him on again this summer.

A number of other Villa players returned to pre-season training on Thursday, with manager Unai Emery particularly taken with Morgan Rogers’ snazzy new hairstyle.

Preparation for the 2024/25 season – when the Villans will make their triumphant return to the Champions League – begins here.