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EPL Donyell Malen scored twice for Villa against Burnley Neville Williams Aston Villa had wanted Donyell Malen for three transfer windows. The feeling was mutual. Malen had listened to the presentations Villa’s recruitment team had shown him and his representatives, with background checks and his salary broadly completed for many months. Malen had been aiming to return to England following two years in Arsenal’s academy between 2015-17. Back then, he was a fresh-faced, more hirsute teenager but left with a solitary senior appearance. It rankled him that he had not proved himself in England as an accomplished, senior figure. Frustrations heightened when speaking to many of his Netherlands international team-mates who were based in the Premier League. Advertisement From Villa’s standpoint, Malen represented exceptional value. Not necessarily from a money perspective — previous discussions had centred on a loan with an option or obligation — but from the type of profile he offered. There were few European-calibre forwards who could operate across multiple positions, especially moulded to how manager Unai Emery wanted to attack. However, transfer windows came and went, with Malen growing more exasperated. He had made it clear to his club, Borussia Dortmund, he wanted to leave, yet multiple factors contributed to negotiations with Villa dragging on for the best part of a year. At one stage, the sticking point was the structure of the payment to Dortmund. Then in the summer of 2024, Villa did not have the budget. Having been denied the move again, Malen changed agents. The groundwork had been laid by his previous representatives, meaning by the time Villa did sign him in January 2025 for a fee worth €23million plus €3m in add-ons, personal terms were not an issue. The 26-year-old has a curious profile. Villa thought they had identified what he could bring, yet incorporating him into a system and position was complex. Other clubs had also been aware of this, noting his credible goalscoring record, but held reservations over his off-the-ball diligence and ability to fashion chances himself. Malen is described by one senior figure at another Premier League club, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, as a “player who falls between the cracks profile-wise”. Quite simply, Malen is an attacker but not a traditional No 9, No 10 or winger. He is best suited, in the view of many, as a second forward. Malen needs to be brought into the game, put in positions where he can use his best qualities, namely his pace and finishing. Over the previous 12 months, Malen ranks in the bottom five per cent of attackers for passes attempted per 90 minutes and within the bottom three per cent for passes that lead directly to a shot. Advertisement Tellingly, though, the former PSV Eindhoven and Dortmund forward is among the top two per cent for matching their expected goal rate (x G). Malen is more equipped to be on the end of chances as opposed to creating them. His finishing ability is unquestionable, with a low centre of gravity lending itself to a scampering type run. He keeps his head over the ball, using his laces to drill low and hard shots. Early on and despite limited game time, he had developed a trademark finish of shooting low from right to left and into the opposite corner. Two goals against Burnley last weekend got his league tally up and running and he is already overperforming his 0. 7 x G. Malen’s inherent nature is impactful; he has few touches in Villa’s build-up, yet unerringly looks to threaten the opposition’s goal when he does receive. Malen’s characteristics were crystallised against Burnley. Completing five touches in his own half underlined that he was instead being put in positions which chimed with his skillset. Until then, Malen was a signing that, in contradiction to Villa’s long pursuit, quickly appeared forgotten. He accrued just 392 minutes in the second half of last season, starting twice in the league. This continued into the new campaign, despite a standout pre-season. Outwardly, Emery held concerns. Malen was not a right winger — which was clear in a side without a traditional wide player and that was badly lacking width as a result — while, by and large, he struggled to play as a lone striker consistently. His type of profile did not exist within Villa’s attacking structure, which carried two No 10s and a lone centre forward. This is why Malen playing where he did against Burnley felt seminal. Emery had tweaked his shape, with Malen dovetailing alongside Ollie Watkins. Villa had been operating from a 4-2-2-2 system in possession in certain phases of games, although with Malen’s inclusion, this was far more pronounced. Advertisement Emery ensured his system’s overarching principles remained the same. He still had two No 10s — John Mc Ginn and Morgan Rogers — with width provided by both full-backs. This enabled Malen to stay central and higher for longer, rather than having to be on the touchline, as he had previously. Tactically, Emery’s purpose was to use Malen in his best position and expose Burnley’s two-versus-two in defence. “It is something we have tried in training a few times and we have a good connection, ” Malen told the BBC. “It went quite well today. ” “We were doing something like that with Evann Guessand, ” Emery explained, in response to The Athletic’s question about Malen’s role. “But Guessand is playing more on the right side, but he’s also played trying to attack the goal. “With Malen, we did something similar, but more central, not defending like a winger but as a second striker. John Mc Ginn helped the defending and was one step lower to try to connect. (Matty) Cash went a little higher and wider. Malen played fantastic. He felt comfortable and in the position where he could exploit his qualities. ” Here, the 45-timed capped Dutch international receives the ball from Cash, who had maintained right-side width. Malen is central and in a position traditionally adopted by a second forward. Compare this to the previous week, with Guessand wide and Cash deeper. Ostensibly, Malen replaced Guessand in the starting XI. On a deeper focus, though, he held a differing remit. Villa’s average positioning during the 3-1 home victory to Fulham the previous week showed Guessand (29) as a typical Emery winger, starting wide before moving alongside Watkins when Villa built from deep. In contrast, Malen’s average positioning against Burnley was more akin to a second centre forward and in higher positions on Burnley’s backline. This was vindicated in both of his goals. Owing to being central and high, he was in a position to break as soon as Villa regained possession, with Boubacar Kamara delivering a perfect pass into his stride and away from the closest central defender, Maxime Esteve. Malen’s propensity to make runs between the left centre-back and left-back aids his trademark finish of striking low and across on his stronger foot. In the instance below, the Dutch forward peels off Esteve once more before taking a touch and, in a snapping action with little backlift, shooting instantly. “We were trying to get one extra player attacking aggressively in behind with Watkins and Malen, ” added Emery. “Because if we can, we can set Malen closer to the opponent’s box. He has the qualities and is a fast player to shoot. Advertisement “He’s clinical when he can have chances like that today. We are very focused on our positioning, where players are really feeling better in exploiting their qualities. With Malen today, we got that. ” The brace against Burnley could be the start of Malen’s Villa career kicking into life. He is now settled in the region, having bought a house in the summer and found schools for his three children. He has also taken up golf. He is well-liked among team-mates and regarded as diligent in his preparation — he even employs a personal chef. He has taken inspiration from Youri Tielemans, who transformed from a peripheral figure into Villa’s best player last season. Having adjusted off the field, there are emerging signs that Villa are adjusting to Malen’s distinct profile on it. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Jacob is a football reporter covering Aston Villa for The Athletic. Previously, he followed Southampton FC for The Athletic after spending three years writing about south coast football, working as a sports journalist for Reach PLC. In 2021, he was awarded the Football Writers' Association Student Football Writer of the Year. Follow Jacob on Twitter @J_Tanswell