Aston Villa youngster James Wright has admitted his goal is to get Real Unión promoted this season before returning to Birmingham.
The goalkeeper has been speaking to El Diario Vasco about his loan deal at the Spanish club this year and the talks with Aston Villa that preceded it.
Unión are owned by Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and his family and were this week brought into the network of clubs owned by Villa’s owners V Sports.
That means they now officially a sister club to Aston Villa, who had previously been simply working alongside the Basque club to aid their growth.
That’s already seen loan deals between the two sides and the Spanish side adopting Aston Villa’s kit as well.
Wright is one of the players to make the move, joining Unión on loan in the summer from Aston Villa’s U21 side.
It is his first move away from the club after joining them from Manchester City in July 2021 and is so far going to plan, with 12 appearances to his name in the league and 71% of the minutes played so far.
He’s been a regular for the club in the Primera Federación this season, the third tier of Spanish football which was brought about in 2021 after the COVID pandemic.
The table is split into two groups, from which four sides get promoted as champions, and Wright admits his main aim is to ensure he leaves having gotten Unión, who are currently 13 points behind the leaders CoD Leonesa, back up to the second division.
“I spoke with the Aston Villa coaches and we thought it was a good opportunity for me,” he said.
“Real Unión offered me to play here and, in the summer, I visited to get to know the area and the club. And I enjoyed it. I had no doubt about coming. It’s the first time I’ve gone on loan and it’s difficult, but the team helps me a lot.
“I am very happy. It’s my first year on loan, so there are ups and downs. But Charli, Txusta and Odei help me a lot and it’s a lot of fun with them. Also, Ricardo (Costa), very important. Txusta helps me a lot with the crosses because, due to height and physique, that is important for me.
“That we managed to ascend. And that I learned Spanish,” he added when asked what he wants to be able to say at the end of the season.
