Aston Villa confirm departures as club begin Premier League preparations

Villa have decided against renewing contracts for Alan Hutton, Glenn Whelan, Mile Jedinak, Tommy Elphick, Albert Adomah, Mark Bunn, Ritchie De Laet and Micah Richards.

All eight players depart the club as Villa plan ahead to their first Premier League campaign following promotion via the play-offs.

Adomah, Hutton and Whelan all featured heavily over the past season, whilst Jedinak and Elphick were also in and around first-team squads under Smith, the latter having returned from a loan spell at Hull in January.

Bunn, De Laet and Richards all depart having barely featured at Villa Park over the past 12 months.

Goalkeeper Bunn started one solitary game this campaign against Preston, the game which proved Steve Bruce's final as boss, whilst De Laet made two appearances in the Carabao Cup in the 1-0 win over Yeovil and the 1-0 defeat to Burton before being loaned out. Richards had not featured in claret and blue since October 2016.

The decision kicks off a summer of change at Villa Park, with Smith preparing for top flight football.

Another player likely to depart Villa Park is Gary Gardner, who is expected to join local rivals Birmingham City as Villa close in on the signing of Jota, a key player for Smith during his spell at Brentford.