Everton have confirmed that Yannick Bolasie is back at their Finch Farm training facility after cutting short a season-long loan deal with Aston Villa.
The winger spent a large proportion of the season fighting injuries and fitness concerns before breaking into the Villa starting XI under Dean Smith, but has severed his ties with the Villans.
Everton confirmed on Monday that the 29-year-old was back with the Blues and declared that it was, in fact, Bolasie himself who activated the option to terminate his loan.
↪️ | Yannick Bolasie has returned to Everton Football Club today after he exercised an option in his loan agreement with Aston Villa. #EFC pic.twitter.com/mtLDRFJiyi
— Everton (@Everton) January 21, 2019
The Toffees paid £25million to Crystal Palace back in 2016 when the DR Congo international signed a five-year contract, but the left-winger never failed to replicate his Eagles form at Goodison Park, which ultimately led to his loan exit last summer.
He did show flashes of his former-brilliance at Villa Park, yet only returned two goals and five assists in the 21 Championship fixtures he featured in.
Marco Silva could look to bring the 35-cap international into the fold now he is a Blues player again, but it is hard to see why he would turn to Bolasie over Bernard or Theo Walcott despite the pair’s often underwhelming performances.