Aston Villa F.C. Under-21s and Academy

History

Reserve sides of Aston Villa had played unofficial matches since the formation of the club in 1874, while formal competition for a reserve side began in 1892, when Aston Villa Reserves joined the Birmingham & District League. After finishing in the runners-up position twice in the first 2 seasons of the competition, Villa finally won their first trophy in the 1894–95 season, winning 26 out of 30 league games and losing just once all season. Several titles followed after this achievement, including a run of 8 consecutive titles between 1902 and 1910. When Villa finally left the Birmingham & District League in 1915, they had accumulated a total of 12 league titles and 6 runners-up finishes.

During the Second World War, TIME Magazine reported that the Villa reserve team, all captured at Dunkirk, thrashed their captor SS guards. TIME issued an apology for erroneously placing Aston in the city of Liverpool: "TIME hastily restores Aston Villa (soccer) to Birmingham where it belongs".

After that, the reserve team played in the Central League for many years, becoming champions in 1929–30, 1963–64 and 1992–93.

In 1999–2000, the FA Premier Reserve League was set up, Villa were one of the founding members, and were split into the Northern section of the league. Three disappointing seasons followed, however in the 2003–04 season, inspired by brothers Stefan Moore and Luke Moore, Villa eased to their first title. In the two seasons which followed (2004–05 and 2005–06), Villa agonisingly finished both campaigns as runners-up, both times to Manchester United. In the 2006–07 season, for the first time since its introduction, the FA Premier Reserve League excluded Coca-Cola Championship teams from playing in the league, with the 20 senior English Premiership teams parallelling the teams involved in the FA Premier League. This also meant that due to geographical circumstances, Aston Villa Reserves were switched from the Northern Division, to the Southern equivalent, for the first time since the start of the original format in 1999. Villa eventually finished 4th - winning 9 out of their 18 games, with Luke Moore the top goalscorer, with 7. The season saw the impressive development of several youngsters, most notably including Zoltán Stieber, Shane Lowry and Stephen O'Halloran, all of which were rewarded with first-team opportunities in the pre-season fixtures, prior to the 2007–08 season.

Inspired by Swedish striker Tobias Mikaelsson, Aston Villa Reserves clinched the 2007–08 Southern title, their second regional success since the inception of the league in 1999. However, they were beaten 3–0 in the Play-Off Final by Northern champions Liverpool.

In the 2008–09 season, the team went one better by securing their second consecutive Southern title, and then defeating Sunderland to claim their first ever national title, with goals from Nathan Delfouneso, James Collins and Shane Lowry.

Andreas Weimann netted nine goals, to help Villa keep up their trend of securing the Southern title - their third consecutively - in the 2009–10 season. This included a remarkable 15-game unbeaten streak, running from the opening game of the campaign, all the way through to the last game of the season against Portsmouth. However, the club were denied a second consecutive national title, as they were beaten on penalties by Manchester United, after a 3–3 draw at Old Trafford.

The 2010–11 season saw changes to the standard format of the league. Only 16 clubs competed, which meant a split between the top heavy Northern league. Undoubtedly the highlight of the season, was a 10–1 home victory over Arsenal at the Greene King Stadium, en route to finishing third in the league.

Following changes arrived in the 2011–12 season. Three leagues were abolished, returning to two, whilst each team played the teams in their own league home and away. They also played each team in the regional league once, with home and away games split evenly. More success followed however, as Villa picked up another Southern title, with Andreas Weimann scoring nine times during the course of the season. It was a case of deja vu however, as they were again beaten on penalties by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Premier Reserve League was abolished during the summer of 2012, to make way for the Professional Development League 1. Aston Villa were one of 22 clubs to take part in the inaugural season, participating in Group 2 of the competition.

During the 13-year tenure of the original Reserve system, Aston Villa were the second most successful club - behind Manchester United - with five regional titles and one national title. The youth sides currently play their home matches at Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath. From 2019, having been promoted back to the Premier League, Aston Villa began fielding an under-21 side in the EFL Trophy against League One and League Two opposition.

In January 2021, after a COVID-19 outbreak in the first team, the youth team was used for a first team game against Liverpool in the FA cup 3rd round.

After a successful 2022–23 season with the senior side, Jacob Ramsey was recognised by the Premier League with the 2022/23 Premier League Academy Graduate award.

On 12 June 2025, after managing the U18 team to a league and Youth Cup double the previous season, Jimmy Shan was named U21 manager, replacing the outgoing Josep Gombau.

Aston Villa Under-21s

Squad

Out on loan

Reserve, U21 & U23 Honours

Birmingham & District League

• Winners:
  • 1894/95, 1895/96, 1899/1900, 1902/03, 1903/04, 1904/05, 1905/06, 1906/07, 1907/08, 1908/09, 1909/10, 1911/12, 1959-60 (Division Two).
• Runners-Up:
  • 1892/93, 1893/94, 1897/98, 1898/99, 1900/01, 1910/11.

Birmingham Senior Cup

• Winners:
  • 1879/80, 1881/82, 1882/83, 1883/84, 1884/85, 1887/88, 1888/89, 1889/90, 1890/91, 1895/96, 1898/99, 1902/03, 1903/04, 1905/06, 1907/08, 1908/09, 1909/10, 1911/12, 1984/85, 2023/24.
• Runners-Up:
  • 1875/76, 1880/81, 1892/93, 1894/95, 1900/01, 1901/02, 1923/24, 1982/83, 1994/95, 1995/96.

FA Premier Reserve League North

• Winners:
  • 2003/04.
• Runners-Up:
  • 2004/05, 2005/06.

FA Premier Reserve League South

• Winners:
  • 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12

FA Premier League Cup

• Winners:
  • 2017/18

FA Premier Reserve League

• Winners:
  • 2008/09.
• Runners-Up:
  • 2007/08, 2009/10, 2011/12.

Aston Villa Academy

Wesley Edens Aston Villa Academy is the youth development side of Premier League team Aston Villa, it fields an under-18s team in the U18 Premier League (South), the U18 Premier League Cup, and the FA Youth Cup. An under-16 side also compete in the U16 Premier League Cup.

Historically known as 'Aston Villa Youth', Villa have been known as one of the most successful and productive academies in England. Villa's youth team has a strong history in the FA Youth Cup with wins in 1972, 1980, 2002, 2021 and 2025. Villa were also runners-up in 1978, 2004 and 2010.

In modern times Villa's U18s competed in the Premier Academy League from its foundation in 1997, winning the U17 title in 2003-04 and the U18 title in 2008. In the 2007-08 season Villa clinched top spot in Group B of the Premier Academy League, recording the most wins (22), most points (68) and most goals (84) of all 41 clubs involved. Villa's youngsters were drawn against Group A winners Arsenal in the semi-final, which they won 1-0. This subsequently meant a final against FA Youth Cup winners Manchester City, which was won 2–0, with goals from James Collins and Chris Herd. The top scorers for the season were Austrian striker Andreas Weimann (16) and English striker Nathan Delfouneso (15) who both went on to be first team regulars.

The 2008/09 season was less fruitful for Villa's youngsters, as they finished 3rd in Group B, and were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the first hurdle, losing in the Third Round to eventual champions Arsenal. The side won the 2024-25 U18 Premier League South.

The team train at Bodymoor Heath in North Warwickshire and also play their home matches there on weekends.

Invitational Tournaments

Hong Kong Soccer Sevens

The annual invitational seven-a-side Hong Kong Soccer Sevens tournament brings together academy sides from around the world, and has brought notable success to Aston Villa's academy between since 1999. Villa have won the main tournament seven times, more than any other team.

Villa won the third HK Soccer Sevens tournament in 2002, defeating Arsenal in the final, they went on to defend their title in 2004 (as the 2003 competition was cancelled due to the SARS outbreak), inspired by Stephen Cooke and Steven Foley they clinched the trophy in the final against Manchester United. Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor captained Villa to the semi-final in 2006 - losing to the eventual winners Urawa Red Diamonds - and also received the 'Player of the Tournament' accolade. Villa won the competition again in May 2010, beating Central Coast Mariners of Australia in the final. In the in 2019 tournament, Villa won the secondary 'plate' trophy; players including Akos Onodi, Lewis Brunt and Cameron Archer featured. After a four year hiatus due to COVID-19 and the Hong Kong protests the tournament returned in May 2023. At the tournament Villa extended their record of victories to seven, defeating Tai Po FC in the final, Omari Kellyman was named player of the tournament and was also topscorer with five goals overall.

NextGen Series

The Aston Villa Academy played in both seasons of the now defunct NextGen Series, a tournament for Europe's elite football academies between 2011 and 2013. The team was composed of under-18s with up to three under-19s in each matchday squad. Having made the quarter-finals in the 2011-12 Series, the academy side captained by Samir Carruthers won the final of the 2012-13 tournament on 1 April 2013 beating Chelsea 2–0, at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, in Como, Italy.

CEE Cup

Aston Villa sent an under-19 side to the invitational CEE Cup in the Czech Republic for the first time in 2022, competing against the youth sides of elite sides from around the world including Palmeiras, Tigres UANL and Dynamo Kyiv. Villa narrowly lost all three of their matches, finishing 6th in the overall rankings, Kerr Smith and Todd Alcock scored for Villa during the competition.

Stanislav Štrunc Memorial Tournament

Aston Villa submitted U19 sides to the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Stanislav Štrunc Memorial Tournament held by FC Viktoria Plzeň in the Czech Republic. Villa player, Ben Broggio, was named player of the tournament in 2024.

Academy squad

Youth Squad

Academy records

• Best FA Youth Cup performance: Champions, 1971–72, 1979–80, 2001–02, 2020–21, 2024–25
• Best League Trophy performance: Round of 16 (Northern Section), 2024–25

Academy honours

FA Youth Cup

• Winners:

  • 1972, 1980, 2002, 2021, 2025

• Runners-Up:

  • 1978, 2004, 2010 Professional U18 Development League National Champion

• Winners:

  • 2024–25

Professional U18 Development League Southern Division

• Winners:
  • 2024–25

NextGen Series

• Winners:
  • 2012–13 FA Premier Academy League U17s
• Winners:
  • 2003–04

FA Premier Academy League U18s: Group B

• Winners:
  • 2007–08
  • 2010–11

FA Premier Academy League U18s: Play-Offs

• Winners:
  • 2007–08
• Runners-Up:
  • 2007

Under-18 Premier League Next Gen Berlin Cup

• Winners:
  • 2024

Premier League Under-16 National Tournament

• Winners:
  • 2022

HKFC International Soccer Sevens

• Main Tournament Winners:
  • 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2023
• Shield Winners:
  • 2013, 2014, 2018
• Plate Winners:
  • 2019

Non-playing staff

Corporate hierarchy

:Source:

Management hierarchy

Notable Academy graduates

The following players have all been members of the Aston Villa academy before their professional debut and have either made at least one appearance for the Villa first team in professional competition, have gone on to play in a fully professional league, or have represented their national team. Players in bold are still contracted to the club.

2020s

2010s

2000s

1990s

References

References

1. (1 January 2010). "Aston Villa Football Club information". BBC Sport.
2. Preece, Ashley. (2019-12-09). "The new Aston Villa training ground complex giving fans their fix".
3. "Aston Villa: Wes Edens & Nassef Sawiris to make 'significant investment' in club". BBC Sport.
4. ''Game Called''. TIME Magazine, 0040781X, 1/13/1941, Vol. 37, Issue 2
5. LETTERS. TIME Magazine, 0040781X, 2/10/1941, Vol. 37, Issue 6
6. "Louie Barry: Aston Villa teenager revels in scoring against Liverpool". BBC Sport.
7. (2023-05-23). "Jacob Ramsey wins Premier League Academy Graduate Award". Aston Villa Football Club.
8. (2025-06-12). "Jimmy Shan appointed Under-21 Head Coach". Aston Villa Football Club.
9. "Under 21 Squad".
10. Seelochan, Isaac. (2024-01-09). "Forest transfer exit as Aston Villa confirm academy signing".
11. Club, Aston Villa Football. (2025-08-14). "Hollingshead joins the Academy".
12. Robinson, Michael. "Non-League Football Tables 1889–2005".
13. Robinson, Michael. "Non-League Football Tables 1889–2005".
14. (2024-10-17). "Aston Villa news: Opinion - Club's academy and recruitment in 'top bracket'". BBC Sport.
15. Evans, Gregg. (2022-08-02). "Aston Villa's academy is thriving – only Big Six have more England youth players". The New York Times.
16. Murphy, Amos. (2023-10-20). "Aston Villa's all-time academy XI".
17. (2006-09-09). "ToffeeWeb - Everton U17s, 2003-04".
18. (2008-05-05). "VILLA U18s 2-0 Man City U18s {{!}} Aston Villa {{!}} News {{!}} Football News {{!}} Football News".
19. (2025-05-08). "U18s: Aston Villa 1-0 Leicester City". Aston Villa Football Club.
20. (June 2012). "Jones: I'll never forget Gabby's performances in Hong Kong Sevens". Aston Villa F.C. Official Website.
21. "2019 Plate Winners - Aston Villa".
22. (2023-05-28). "English Premier League still rules Hong Kong as Aston Villa win Soccer Sevens". South China Morning Post.
23. (April 2013). "Chelsea 0-2 Aston Villa | NextGen Series final match report".
24. "CEE Cup 2022: The Ultimate Guide".
25. "Match schedule CEE Cup 2022". CEE Cup.
26. "Ohlédnutí za 20. ročníkem Memoriálu Stanislava Štrunce". FC Viktoria Plzeň.
27. "Dvacátý první ročník Memoriálu Stanislava Štrunce se blíží". FC Viktoria Plzeň.
28. "Under-18 Squad".
29. (2025-07-04). "Aston Villa welcome new scholars to Under-18s". Aston Villa Football Club.
30. (2024-07-10). "John Townley's notebook: Jaden Philogene transfer detail emerges as loan moves lined up".
31. (28 October 2022). "Aston Villa win PL Under-16 National Tournament".
32. "Who's who". Aston Villa F.C..
33. (2023-05-17). "V Sports and Aston Villa announce Chris Heck appointment". Aston Villa Football Club.
34. Evans, Gregg. (12 June 2023). "Villa CEO Purslow leaves club".
35. (2025-09-23). "Club Statement".
36. (2023-10-09). "Youth Development and International Academies update". Aston Villa Football Club.
37. (2023-07-20). "Aston Villa appoint Inigo Idiakez as U21s coach". Aston Villa Football Club.
38. (12 June 2025). "Jimmy Shan appointed Under-21 Head Coach".
39. (14 August 2025). "Richard Beale appointed U18 Lead Coach".
40. Thompson, Colin. (2021-12-20). "Sporting community in pain after Osagi Bascome killing".
41. Ridley, Nathan. (2024-06-15). "Millwall goalkeeper dies aged 26 as tributes pour in for Matija Sarkic".