Despite Reggae Boyz star Leon Bailey returning to Aston Villa from his loan spell at AS Roma, there’s no guarantee that his future lies at the English Premier League contenders.

After weeks of speculation, Villa on Wednesday recalled Bailey — who left the Ciampino Airport in Rome on Tuesday afternoon — following his short stint at the Italian club.

The 28-year-old Jamaican winger, who joined Roma on a season-long loan with an option to buy for 22 million euros, only managed 11 appearances, including one start in the Serie A. He failed to score and only registered two assists, including in last week’s 2-3 defeat to Torino in the Copa Italia Round of 16.

Since sustaining an injury in his first training session with the club in August, Bailey’s injury stint continued, which saw him miss 16 games and play fewer than 300 minutes.

Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who spoke highly of the Jamaican on his arrival, believes the loan termination was the best move for everyone involved.

“Unfortunately, Bailey’s experience was negative for both him and us,” he said during a press conference on Wednesday. “He got injured on the first day of training, and from there, a real ordeal began.”

“It took a long time to recover, then there were some stints, but every time he seemed ready to return fully, he relapsed. It was truly a shame, because he was a player we thought could add value. I believe injuries were the main factor in this decision, including what happened in the last match in Turin, when he had to sit out again. Being a player on loan, it’s clear that this decision was made. Perhaps if he had been a Roma player we would probably have continued.”

According to Italian media outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Bailey initiated the return to Villa after withdrawing from Roma’s league game against Torino on Sunday.

He spoke with Villa boss Unai Emery about rejoining with the English club, agreeing to make it happen despite the loan agreement not having a break clause.

My opinion and our decision in the summer is now the same. It was a surprising U-turn from Emery who two weeks prior had no intentions of having Bailey cut his loan short.

“We must keep him playing in Rome. He has some injuries, because we have followed him in his process. Our idea is still the same — to be on loan there,” Emery said.

Emery didn’t address Bailey’s return in Villa’s prematch press conference ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League tie against Fenerbahce. However, it’s believed he could make the matchday squad on Sunday for their visit to Newcastle in the Premier League.

Third place Villa, who are currently seven points off leaders Arsenal, are currently without a number of their first team stars due to injury and recently loaned forward Donyell Malen to Roma for the remainder of the season.

However, there’s no confirmation that Bailey, who has made 144 appearances since joining in 2021, will be at the club when the transfer window closes on February 2.

The Jamaica Observer understands that another Premier League club Bournemouth enquired about Bailey’s availability at the start of the window as a potential replacement for winger Antoine Semenyo who joined Manchester City. However, no bid materialised and they’ve since agreed a move for winger Rayan from Vasco da Gama in Brazil’s first division.

On Tuesday, Netherlands-based newspaper De Telegraaf reported that many-time Dutch champions Ajax are exploring the possibility of signing Bailey this month.

Other reports have linked Bailey with moves to Spanish club Girona, Italian club Fiorentina, and Portuguese giants SL Benfica, which is managed by Jose Mourinho.

Bailey’s agent Craig Butler hadn’t commented up to press time. Further clarity on Bailey’s future is expected to be provided in the coming days, with the transfer window set to shut in less than two weeks.

Bailey’s contract with Villa expires in June 2027.

Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey (left) fights for the ball with Club Brugge’s Maxim De Cuyper during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg football match at Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, on March 4, 2025. (Photo: AFP)

Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey kicks the ball during the English FA Cup semi-final match against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on April 26, 2025. (Photo: AFP)