Coventry City win race to sign Premier League ace for ‘around £3.5m’ ahead of Southampton and Middlesbrough

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Several Championship sides were targeting the top flight starlet this season, and now Coventry City are ‘set to sign’ him from Premier League giants.

The 2024/25 Championship campaign ended in heartache for Coventry City with their play-off semi-final defeat to eventual winners Sunderland.

Dan Ballard’s winner against Coventry condemned the Sky Blues to another season in the second tier under head coach Frank Lampard.

In our early 2025/26 Championship predictions, Coventry are expected to finish inside the top-six again come May, and their summer transfer window business will be imperative to that.

Now, Coventry are poised to secure the signature of a Premier League starlet who shone last season on loan in the Championship, as their second summer signing.

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Coventry City ‘set to sign’ Kaine Kesler-Hayden from Aston Villa

Within Coventry’s summer ins and outs, the first recruit to the CBS Arena came in the form of Spanish full-back Miguel Angel Brau, who signed on a free transfer from Spanish second tier outfit Granada.

Now, as per Telegraph reporter John Percy, Coventry are “set to sign” Kaine Kesler-Hayden from Aston Villa for a fee “around £3.5m”, beating Championship rivals Middlesbrough and Southampton to his signature.

Kesler-Hayden impressed during his loan spell at Preston North End last season, scoring two goals and notching three assists in 44 Championship appearances, to help the Lilywhites avoid demotion to League One.

As a result of his standout displays, Coventry targeted Kesler-Hayden for a summer move, and it was thought in May that the Sky Blues were “leading the race” for the 22-year-old.

Earlier in June, EFL Analysis learned that Middlesbrough and Southampton wanted Kesler-Hayden, but now the Sky Blues are poised to sign the full-back, with a medical penned today (June 10).

Kesler-Hayden was named Preston’s Player of the Season last term, and Paul Heckingbottom was a great admirer of the Englishman throughout the campaign.

Via the Lancashire Post, Heckingbottom said: “Kaine has done well. He has got some stand out quality.

“His physical outputs are fantastic and that is his strength. You can see he’s got pace, can get in behind and he’s actually got pace where he can keep going and going.”

Kesler-Hayden not only solves a problem area in Lampard’s squad, but the move also sends a statement of intent from Coventry to their Championship rivals for next season.

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Kaine Kesler-Hayden is a statement signing from Coventry City

Full-back is a problem area for Coventry heading into next season, with Milan van Ewijk touted for a Premier League move this summer, and the Aston Villa starlet’s acquisition is the perfect succession plan.

Also, Jay Dasilva endured a poor run of form last season, culminating in his controversial red card against Luton Town.

With versatile Kesler-Hayden able to operate on both flanks well, although he plays the majority of his football at right-back, he is an impressive coup for the Sky Blues.

With Lampard also known for his impressive development of young talent, seen during his Derby County days and this season with Sheffield United-linked Jack Rudoni, the move will also benefit Kesler-Hayden.

Coventry’s dream summer transfer window would see Rudoni and Haji Wright remain at the club at the same time Kesler-Hayden arrives.

With Leicester and Ipswich keen on Wright, if the Sky Blues hierarchy can rebuff the interest in their attacking duo, the full-back’s arrival will go a long way to help Lampard’s side go one better than last season in the 2025/26 Championship campaign.