Not an injury-prone signing

Short version: the headline numbers make it easy to throw around the phrase "injury-prone", but a closer look suggests something different. From what I've seen, these were mainly over‑use and development issues rather than a chronic career‑ending problem. That matters when judging a 20‑year‑old who's still growing into the adult game.

What the record actually shows

He missed five games with a back issue last season and eleven with what was described as a "stress" knee injury. Two seasons earlier there was another spell out—eighteen games—with a different knee problem. Those aren't nothing, of course, but they read like interruptions you might expect when a young player is pushed quickly into senior football rather than a pattern of niggles every other month.

Why the context changes the picture

Stress injuries tend to come from over‑use and the way bodies adapt during growth. That's a common thing in teenagers and early twenties pros who move from youth setups into top‑level demands. Add in international call‑ups — he's made eleven appearances for Serbia — and you can see how load and travel start to stack up. It doesn't excuse the absences but it does explain them in a way that doesn't automatically equal "fragile".

Smart business and a cautious outlook

From a club perspective, the deal looks neatly structured. Leipzig had a EUR15m option; the loan comes with a negotiated obligation around appearances at roughly £4m. That's a sensible, appearance‑based safety valve for us. He also featured in six out of eight preseason games for Villa this summer, so he has been getting minutes and building fitness.

So where does that leave us? Not writing him off as injury‑prone yet. There are clear reasons for those previous lay‑offs, and the move to us feels low‑risk given the clauses and his recent match minutes. I'm optimistic — he looks like an exciting signing who needs time and smart management more than a crystal ball verdict on fitness.

Written by AyrshireMurphy: 22 August 2026