John McGinn has spent the past eight years proving Aston Villa secured one of the bargains of modern football, and it continues to highlight the mistake Leeds United made in 2018.
His latest reminder came in the early hours of Sunday morning when the midfielder scored the only goal in Scotland’s 1-0 World Cup victory over Haiti, securing their first win at the tournament since 1990.
Long before he became Aston Villa captain and one of Scotland’s most important players, The Sun said Leeds United were among the clubs interested in signing McGinn from Hibernian in the summer of 2018.
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Paul Heckingbottom was in charge at Elland Road when Leeds entered the race for the midfielder. McGinn had entered the final year of his contract at Easter Road and was open to a move down south.
Interest was strong, but Aston Villa ultimately got the deal done. The Championship side secured McGinn for just £2.75m, a fee that now looks extraordinary given everything that has followed.
McGinn has just written another chapter in Scotland history
McGinn’s latest contribution arrived on the biggest stage of all. The 30-year-old scored the winner as Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 at the World Cup, delivering the country’s first World Cup victory since 1990.
The goal was another reminder of McGinn’s importance to the national team. Scotland have relied on him for goals, leadership and big moments for years, and he once again delivered on the biggest stage.
Villa could hardly have imagined the return they would receive on a £2.75m investment. Since arriving from Hibernian in 2018, McGinn has made more than 300 appearances for the club.
McGinn has scored more than 30 goals and contributed dozens of assists from midfield. His influence extends far beyond statistics. Villa appointed McGinn club captain in 2022.
He has led the side through one of the most successful periods in their recent history, helping establish them as a force in the Premier League and captaining Villa to the Europa League title during 2025-26.
Few signings have offered comparable value. What started as a modest Championship transfer has developed into a deal that belongs among the finest pieces of recruitment made in the modern era.
Bielsa’s verdict makes the Leeds miss even harder to ignore
The most striking part of the story is that Leeds eventually recognised exactly what they had missed. Gordon Strachan revealed that Marcelo Bielsa was a huge admirer of McGinn after arriving at Elland Road.
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“Bielsa loved him. Loved him. He wanted him. He thought he was fantastic. He thought he was absolutely brilliant,” Strachan recently said about Bielsa and McGinn, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The comments have aged remarkably well. McGinn now has more than 80 caps and more than 20 goals for Scotland, placing him among the most influential players of the modern era for his country.
His winner against Haiti is simply the latest addition to an already outstanding career. For Aston Villa, it is another reminder of a transformative signing. For Leeds, it is another reminder of a player who got away.
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