Borja Baston, the forgotten man of the Premier League, is currently enjoying a prolific spell in the Spanish second division. The striker, who signed for Swansea in a club record deal worth £16 million in 2016 before later moving to Aston Villa, has made just 20 appearances in the Premier League and scored only once.
Baston was signed by Swansea from Atletico Madrid after a successful loan spell at LaLiga side Eibar, where he netted 19 times in one season. However, he failed to settle at Swansea and was subsequently loaned out to Malaga and Deportivo Alaves in the following years. He returned to Swansea to score six goals in the Championship before eventually agreeing to have his contract ripped up.
In January 2020, Aston Villa made the shock move to sign him on a free transfer. However, he played just twice before being released after only six months at Villa Park. Despite this setback, his career is beginning to look up again as he enjoys a fantastic year in his homeland of Spain with Real Oviedo.
Baston has scored 10 goals for the club this season and captains the side. Oviedo are currently in a battle to stay up, sitting just five points above the relegation zone. One of Baston’s former clubs, Malaga, currently occupies one of the relegation spots, just ten years after they made the Champions League quarter-final.
Interestingly, Malaga has been eyed by potential Man Utd owner Sheikh Jassim and the Qatar Sports Investment Fund as a feeder club for the Red Devils and Paris Saint-Germain in the future.
Baston’s story is a reminder that not all big-money signings work out. Despite his struggles in the Premier League, he has found success in his homeland and is proving to be a valuable asset for Real Oviedo.
