The Tony Xia era for Aston Villa feels like a world away from the club’s current status as a Premier League heavyweight.
Villa have enjoyed top four finishes and Champions League runs when just a few years ago they nearly went out of business.
Xia took ownership of Aston Villa in 2016GettyChinese businessman Xia bought the club in 2016 from American businessman Randy Lerner.
The club had just finished bottom of the Premier League and fans thought it was the chance to start again.
His true wealth was shrouded in mystery, thanks to the opaque nature of the Chinese business environment, but he claimed to be a billionaire.
When asked by The Mail if he was a dollar billionaire, he said: “I think it’s rather more than that.”
His grand plans for Villa included creating a football museum and theme park to try and attract foreign tourists, particularly from China and India.
Xia also advocated for recruiting young Chinese players to the Villa academy.
However, worrying problems soon started to emerge for the Villa owner amid reported problems moving cash out of China and to the UK.
The club missed a deadline to pay a £4m tax bill and faced a winding up order and the real possibility of going out of business.
CEO Keith Wyness was suspended for allegedly discussing the possibility of administration and a 12-point deduction with third parties.
Wyness would take Villa to court claiming constructive dismissal, but it was settled out of court and a statement was released saying he had acted in the best interests of the club.
Xia had grand plans of creating a football museum and theme park to bring in touristsGettyA statement read: “Aston Villa Football Club confirm that it has today agreed an out of court settlement with former CEO, Mr Keith Wyness, who had brought a claim against the Club, and its former owner Dr Tony Xia, following his departure in June 2018.
“The current directors of the Club, none of whom were at the Club at the time of this dispute, accept Mr Wyness’ assertion that during this period he was seeking to act in the best interests of the Club.
“We wish him well for the future.”
Xia managed to agree to pay £500,000 of the bill to save the club from immediate danger and pay the remaining money at a later date.
He then sold his majority stake to NSWE, billionaire investors Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
By 2019, Xia had sold his remaining shares in the club and was no longer involved.
Xia sold his remaining shares in Aston Villa in 2019GettyVilla were in the Championship for the entirety of Xia’s tenure at the club.
They finished 13th in his first season and fourth in his second, losing in the Championship play-off final.
Once he had left, they were immediately promoted to the top flight through the play-offs.
Villa have been in the Premier League ever since and have gone from strength to strength under their owners and manager Unai Emery.
In the 2023/24 campaign they came fourth and booked their place in the Champions League.
They managed to reach the quarter-finals and backed it up by coming sixth in the Premier League.
Aston Villa this season
Despite a sluggish start to the season, where they failed to score in their first four Premier League games, they are looking like serious contenders.
Villa have won nine of their last 10 league matches and have risen to third in the table.
Emery has turned Villa into real contendersGettyThey are just three points behind leaders Arsenal and one behind second place Man City.
talkSPORT asked Emery what his ambitions are for the season, and he said: “To compete game by game, which teams are contenders to be, and how we can get our demand, our consistency, through each match in 30 matches.
“Now we are in a really good position. Two months ago we were in the bottom, and of course now we are feeling better, feeling stronger, feeling confident.
“The players are increasing their level. We are setting our standard high.”
Villa face West Ham next at the London Stadium on Sunday.
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