Never played for Villa

[Legion]

Who have we signed but never played in a game for us? Such as players sent out on loan before going elsewhere. Or signings that just never came to fruition.

For starters...

David Unsworth

[TaxDodger]

Too soon for Lewis Dobbin?

[cdbearsfan]

Assuming reserve and friendly games don't count... Ivo Stas, Vaclav Drobny (sadly no longer with us), Gustavo Bartelt (on loan).

[Ian.]

Did Bosko Balaban ever make a start for us?

Also I remember us signing Didier Six and the Shoot magazine doing a feature and I know he did play the odd game, but it was like a dream and it never happened.

[cdbearsfan]

Balaban started a League Cup defeat at home against Wednesday. Sure I'd have been at the game but I remember nothing of it, let alone his performance. Also eight sub appearances.

[DeKuip]

Did Bosko Balaban ever make a start for us?

Also I remember us signing Didier Six and the Shoot magazine doing a feature and I know he did play the odd game, but it was like a dream and it never happened.

Six starred in a home win over Man Utd on his debut and played more than the odd game to be fair, but never again got anywhere near the level of his performance in that first game.
Him, Nigel Callaghan & Ian Ormondroyd are the reason I’m always a bit worried when a new signing has a great debut for us. There’s a lot more I could add to those three.

[paul_e]

I assume players we signed as kids aren't included because there's loads of those over the years.

[VillaTim]

Bob Bradley's son can't recall his name .
Omar Cummings (did he sign in the end)
Illing Junior
Michael Boulding

[Legion]

Thought Borja Baston was one, but was not.

[cdbearsfan]

Bradley played four games, with his only start being when Houllier decided to chicken out of the FA Cup at Man City. Boulding played twice, both in the InterToto Cup. I'm guessing he's the only player whose entire "home" Villa career took place at The Hawthorns. Cummings was on trial but never signed as we couldn't get a work permit.

[pauliewalnuts]

I went to see Beinlich and Breitkreutz make their debuts for the reserves and felt both would have a long career with us.

I also thought Breitkreutz would have the better career.

Wrong.

[FatSam]

Fabio Ferraresi and Michael Standing came to mind, but they were both signed as youth players, so probably don’t count.

[cdbearsfan]

Ferraresi - one sub appearance at Stromsgodset in the UEFA Cup.

Michael Standing never played for the first team. By various accounts, we only signed Gareth Barry to keep him happy, so it probably still worked out pretty well for us. Standing ended up being Barry's agent.

[dave.woodhall]

Fabio Ferraresi and Michael Standing came to mind, but they were both signed as youth players, so probably don’t count.

Ferraresi played against Stromsgodset.

[Somniloquism]

Close to not playing, but who was the kid we thought was going to be a world beater when he played against them in the League Cup. A big Ron signing?

Helenius was another who had a couple of appearances.