Aston Villa had just been relegated from the Premier League and were in need of rebuilding their side after a dismal season.

Roberto Di Matteo was in charge, and his first signing of the summer was Bournemouth Captain Tommy Elphick who had just come off the back of an impressive debut season in the top-flight, finishing 16th with the Cherries.

The then 28-year-old moved to the Midlands for a fee of £3million, signing a three-year deal with Villa as they looked to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

There was much acclaim to the news of the club’s first summer signing back in June 2016.

Elphick’s career started off strongly for a Villa side who consolidated in the Championship after their first season in the second-tier.

The Villa man made 26 appearances in a campaign that ended with Steve Bruce in charge, finishing 13th.

The following season, he looked to be out of favour under Bruce, making just six appearances for the club having suffered injuries, and was loaned out to Reading for the second-half of the campaign.

A knee injury on his home debut in the defeat to Millwall curtailed his season as he would only made two more appearances for the Royals before returning to his parent club. 

After defensive departures at Villa Park, Elphick looked to be back in favour under the current boss, starting the season and scoring in the 3-1 win over Hull City, before making two more appearances for the club in the League Cup.

Those three games would be his last in a Villa shirt, signing for Hull on a season-long loan, a deal that effectively brings his Aston Villa career to a close, as he is in the final year of his contract.

The euphoria to the signing was welcome after his first season, but since his injury and other factors, the defender has not been able to live up to the initial reaction of his move to the club.