A section of Aston Villa fans on Twitter have been left raging after seeing goalkeeper Sam Johnstone join bitter rivals West Brom on a permanent basis.
The Baggies confirmed via their official Twitter account and official website on Tuesday that Johnstone, 25, has signed a four-year deal at The Hawthorns after spending the last year-and-a-half on loan down the road at Villa Park.
Welcome to West Bromwich Albion, @samjohnstone50!#WBA pic.twitter.com/YWE5aNMK91
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) July 3, 2018
Johnstone has arguably been on of Villa’s best players in the last couple of seasons, appearing 70 times for Steve Bruce’s club in all competitions and keeping 30 clean sheets in the process.
Some Aston Villa fans have been left raging after the now former Manchester United goalkeeper opted to join rivals West Brom, with one claiming that it is “laughable” that the club has found itself in this situation.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of their best tweets:
https://twitter.com/tweetingolfer/status/1014185284244856832
Johnstone has made a wrong decision here, gonna get a ‘great’ reception at VP?? #UTV
— Bennn??????? (@bennnn_ev) July 3, 2018
Sam Johnstone to West Brom is a total gut punch #AVFC
— Matt W (@MattWal17) July 3, 2018
Gutted. Cracking signing, good keepers are hard to come by and losing Johnstone to an inferior club down the road for 6 million (absolute steal) underlines the current state of affairs at the club – really is laughable. #AVFC #Xiaout https://t.co/m4lmoXWBB7
— avfc (@Villa_review) July 3, 2018
Sam Johnstone, ouch!
— Pablo Astobar ?? (@AstonPablo) July 3, 2018
Genuinely gutted to see Sam Johnstone join West Brom, England better win now to soften the blow of that one.
— Adam Scarpellini (@JIGGY1994) July 3, 2018
Can’t believe Johnstone
— gee (@geedotcee) July 3, 2018
Johnstone gone to Albion? Ugh #avfc
— George (@Claytoification) July 3, 2018
Devastated that @samjohnstone50 has joined WBA. Thought he was going to be #AVFC keeper for years to come.
Had Johnstone and Terry printed on my shirts last season… Obviously a bad omen ?
Frustrated that Johnstone isn’t with Villa, annoyed he’s with WBA ?— Bradley West (@BradWest93) July 3, 2018
OPINION
Aston Villa fans should have seen this coming really. Their club cannot even seem to afford free transfers at the moment until players are sold, and even then that money may have to stay put for in order for them to comply with Financial Fair Play. Tony Xia’s erratic spending in 2016 has led to this state of affairs, Randy Lerner’s leadership was obviously the start but the Chinese businessman has definitely made things worse. Losing Johnstone to West Brom is a bitter blow for Villa fans, but it’s definitely not the worst thing that is going to happen to them this summer.