Aston Villa defender Micah Richards is set to finally leave the club in the summer, according to reports from Football Insider.

The 30-year-old has been completely frozen out at Villa Park since their relegation from the Premier League in 2016, and hasn't made a senior appearance for the West Midlands club in nearly two-and-a-half years.

The former Manchester City defender's last appearance for Villa came in a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 2016, but he will now be looking to find a new club in order to reignite his career.

[ad_pod ]

Reports from Football Insider claim that Villa, perhaps unsurprisingly, will not be extending Richards' contract at Villa Park, with his current deal set to run out in the summer.

Richards had been linked with a move to SPFL side Celtic in the January transfer window, however a move to Parkhead looks unlikely after a change in management at Celtic Park.

Villa will now be preparing for life in the Premier League after winning the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on Monday, defeating Derby County by two goals to one.

The Verdict

I think many will have forgotten that Richards was still at Aston Villa, but now he finally looks set to leave in the summer.

It's actually a travesty how he has been on their books for so long, and whether he has a future elsewhere after his shambolic spell at Villa Park remains to be seen.

He is likely to be on high wages, and getting him off the wage bill could be beneficial for Dean Smith going forward.