Throughout the transfer window, fans eagerly refresh their social media feeds to discover if their club have secured a new signing.

Aston Villa made an announcement on Tuesday, but it was centred around an outgoing rather than a new face to add to the squad.

Ritchie de Laet has left the Midlands outfit to join Belgian side Royal Antwerp on loan until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old has been part of the Villa fold since 2016 when he joined from Leicester City.

This season under manager Steve Bruce, the defender has struggled for game time, making just nine appearances in total for the Championship outfit.

Now, De Laet will hope to rack up more minutes back in his homeland at the club where he played during his youth career.

Villa fans have been tweeting their reactions to the transfer, with some hoping that he returns, while others are more focused on who could be coming through the welcome gates.

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