Reserves and Academy 2026-27

[Gareth]

He did

Centre halves are like goalkeepers in that you can see potential at young ages but there is nowhere to hide as you grow, I’d suspect he will go onto have a good career but nowhere near top half of PL squad level that he’d need to be now to be retained.  That is the problem for most of the young lads to get any game time here.  I’d expect Feeney will be another to move on but obv a fee / sell on will be required

[Exeter 77]

Because I am watching Egypt v Belgium I suddenly remembered we signed an Egyptian kid - Omar Khedr. What happened to him?

[cdbearsfan]

Still on Villa's books.

[paul_e]

Scored a free kick in pretty weird circumstances for Egypt at the U20 world cup, decent goal to be fair but mostly memorable for the mess.

[Clampy]

We've drawn Blackpool, Wigan and Crewe in that EFL Trophy. Another 38 penalty shoot out up at Blackpool would be tremendous fun.

[Dogtanian]

We've drawn Blackpool, Wigan and Crewe in that EFL Trophy. Another 38 penalty shoot out up at Blackpool would be tremendous fun.

A nice tour of northern towns.

[Dogtanian]

Zepiqueno Redmond has joined Annecy on loan;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2026/july/07/news-redmond-joins-annecy-on-loan/

[VILLA MOLE]

Zepiqueno Redmond has joined Annecy on loan;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2026/july/07/news-redmond-joins-annecy-on-loan/

I dont like this business model,  it kills some of the excitement of the Youth

[Percy McCarthy]

Zepiqueno Redmond has joined Annecy on loan;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2026/july/07/news-redmond-joins-annecy-on-loan/

I dont like this business model,  it kills some of the excitement of the Youth

I don’t mind it (the loans model) from our point of view - it’s made us a fortune - but I don’t like us having feeder clubs. It must be really shit supporting one.

[Mister E]

... but I don’t like us having feeder clubs. It must be really shit supporting one.

Maybe, although there might be the thrill of "I saw XYZ player when he was learning his trade with us as a kid."
Some friends who support Notts County still remark on their enjoyment at watching Grealish during his season-long loan there.

[Dogtanian]

The next generation has arrived, full of youthful energy, ambition, and dodgy tailoring;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2026/july/08/contract-new-cohort-of-villa-scholars-welcomed-to-under-18s/

[VILLA MOLE]

The next generation has arrived, full of youthful energy, ambition, and dodgy tailoring;

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2026/july/08/contract-new-cohort-of-villa-scholars-welcomed-to-under-18s/

ready for that high school prom

[Dogtanian]

Article in The Athletic on our academy player plans;

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7419293/2026/07/09/aston-villa-academy-transfers/

"...Villa are increasingly receptive to the idea of selling those loan players and many of their academy talents. The incentive is to help generate bookable profit to guard against profit and sustainability rules..."

"...there are only two players Villa are insistent on keeping permanently: midfielder George Hemmings, 19, and winger Bradley Burrowes, 18."

"...Ben Broggio, 19, Josh Feeney, 21, Oliwier Zych, 22, and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, 19, are potential departures, although the hope is that they can prove their worth to Emery during pre-season."

 

[Dogtanian]

Still taking people on, though. There will always be only one Blade!

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2026/july/09/signing-blade-earley-arrives-at-villa-academy/

Better late than never, Blade IV.

[SaddVillan]

Article in The Athletic on our academy player plans;

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7419293/2026/07/09/aston-villa-academy-transfers/

"...Villa are increasingly receptive to the idea of selling those loan players and many of their academy talents. The incentive is to help generate bookable profit to guard against profit and sustainability rules..."

"...there are only two players Villa are insistent on keeping permanently: midfielder George Hemmings, 19, and winger Bradley Burrowes, 18."

"...Ben Broggio, 19, Josh Feeney, 21, Oliwier Zych, 22, and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, 19, are potential departures, although the hope is that they can prove their worth to Emery during pre-season."

 

It's very interesting, explaining how the way we're looking to manage our Academy players is changing in order to help us with the financial rules. Amost as is we've decided that selling them with a whole load of buy-back/sell-on options is the way forward - akin to using other clubs as a sort of finishing school.

The point about wages being an issue makes me wonder if we've been too generous with the contracts we've offered to players we've priced away from other Academies and consuquently are having trouble moving some of them on.