Dean Smith declares summer transfer window closed for Aston Villa

What a ride.

The summer transfer window was called by Dean Smith when he told gathered press that no deadline day players would come in. I'd expect some out-bound loans.

So let's take stock.

• Keeper: Tom Heston in. Steer extended.
• Right back: Gilbert in (technically a January buy but now he is in the shirt.
• Centre back: Mings, Engels, Konsa, Hause all in.
• Left back: Targett in.
• Center midfield (combining defensive, holding, and attacking): Luiz, Marvelous Nakamba in. McGinn and Hourihane extended.
• Left wing: El Ghazi made permanent. Green loaned out.
• Right wing: Jota, and Trezeguet in.
• Forward: Wesley Morales in.

Phew. Caught up? I probably missed one because there were so many. And all done before deadline day -- which Smith pointed to in his press conference as key to the integration of the squad being "seamless".

Players released: De Laet, Elphick, Adomah, McCormack, Whelan, Hutton, Richards, Jedinak, Bunn. And today — Bjarnasson.

Loaned out (so far): Green, Hepburn-Murphy, Hogan. Reports that Bree may join soon. Expect O’Hare may as well. And one of the excess keepers.

Players Sold: Gardner (as part of Jota deal).

This is a no-”pulling a Fulham zone” because it is lazy & wrong. Enough said.

Dean Smith set out to have two players competing for every position. He did that. Not many managers can look at a single window and say that they met their objective. Grealish and McGinn will be pushed by Hourihane, Luiz, and Nakamba. Jota and Trezeguet will battle for single spot on the right. If Gilbert and/or Targett relax defensively — veterans Elmohamady and Neil Taylor are ready to take the spots and will not be keen to let go of them.

Throughout the summer our fearless leader James Rushton has been tracking the depth chart. It started out pretty slim.

From June 28 to deadline day —= it is a different squad.

The team is positioned to compete in the Premier League. That is not to say it will be easy — because it won’t be. There will be runs of losses. There will be mistakes with a young squad. New players may take a bit to get used to the PL. Old players also may take a bit to used to the league. But Dean Smith is happy with his squad — so — so am I.

Bring on Spurs and the adventure of the Premier League.