Aston Villa’s teams returned to Bodymoor Heath for pre-season on July 8.
Each player had a point to prove. Villa are embarking on a Champions League campaign, buying and competing alongside premium talent. The gap to bridge for academy players has never been as daunting nor as vast, but the determination is to break into Emery’s plans.
Unai Emery has built from the ground up, transforming a period of stasis into a thriving one. The only blot on his copybook — if we’re being ultra-critical — is that he has yet to integrate a homegrown talent.
Jacob Ramsey was involved under predecessor Steven Gerrard and, while Jaden Philogene’s return ensures an academy player is a prominent part of the thinking, his sharp development came at Hull City in the Championship last season.
However, Emery’s contract extension at Villa signals a shift in strategy. Owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens want him to serve as a figure in the mould of Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger. A long-term project affords patience, suggesting youth development should, in theory, have time to flourish. It was among the president of football operations Monchi’s key objectives this summer.
“We are making a plan with them (younger players) to be closer to us,” said Emery. “This is even knowing how we are playing and how we are building the team. Even the under-21s are playing similar to us. We are connecting with the under-21s and we always have a lot of young players training with us.”
Some young players have factored the Champions League into the equation, viewing the competition’s 12-man substitutes bench as increasing their chances of featuring in squads.
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Villa’s youth recruitment has been externally praised by a range of sources, who spoke anonymously to The Athletic to protect relationships. They cite the academy staff’s clarity and communication as key strengths. This has led to Villa’s age groups boasting talents who are now looking to step into Emery’s environment.
The Athletic has spoken to several coaches, scouts and players to gain a snapshot of the young players coming through the ranks.
Forward Kobei Moore, 19, has taken observers by surprise. He is the son of Stefan Moore, the former Villa academy product who went on to make 22 appearances in the first team before moving on to Millwall, Leicester City, Queens Park Rangers, Walsall and others. Kobei has been at Villa since the age of nine, with opposition scouts remarking on the striking duo of himself and Rory Wilson.
Moore, the son of Stefan, impressed in pre-season (Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Wilson, who will decide on his future in the coming months with less than a year on his contract, moved to Villa from Rangers in July 2022 after scoring 49 goals the campaign before. He is considered a natural, all-round forward with a high ceiling.
Similar to Wilson’s frame, Moore is 6ft 1in (185cm) and still growing, is adept in dropping into a false nine position providing he is alongside two quick wingers, although he has made strides in stretching play with runs in behind. Moore is left-footed and inclined to make runs in the inside right channel, cutting onto his stronger foot. The 18-year-old has made concerted efforts to fill into his frame over the summer, spending time in the gym and improving physically to help improve his hold-up play.
The teenager, along with Wilson, Ben Broggio, Aidan Borland, Jamaldeen Jimoh and Travis Patterson have all stepped up to the under-21s, with Broggio joining in Emery’s sessions. Each has been remarked on by scouts, with attacker Broggio, 17, starting this season strongly. Kadan Young, an 18-year-old forward, featured initially in pre-season matches and was on the bench last season.
Highly-rated defender Triston Rowe joined at under-15 level after turning down an extension at West Bromwich Albion. The 18-year-old right-back, who has been training with the under-21s, visited clubs in London and in the north west but decided on Villa. He is direct in possession and a proficient ball carrier, helping to break the opposition’s pressing block while, out of possession, is confident defending one-against-one.
When Villa went to the United States for their pre-season tour, three players from the under-21s were selected: goalkeeper James Wright and defenders Sil Swinkels and Josh Feeney. Lamare Bogarde joined later.
Bogarde was the subject of well-documented and strong interest from Nottingham Forest, but Emery wanted to keep the versatile 20-year-old at Villa Park. This was a result of an impressive pre-season that enhanced his standing. There had been talks about a loan.
Bogarde’s composure and ability to step into midfield — his favoured role — were demonstrated across the friendlies, and he was the only player to play all 90 minutes against Athletic Bilbao. Bogarde joined from Feyenoord in September 2020, and the impression is he has the mental fortitude to integrate into Emery’s environment. Villa’s manager views Bogarde as offering depth at centre-back, central midfield and right-back — where he made his Premier League debut against Leicester City.
Emery likes Bogarde’s ability to play in multiple positions (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Feeney signed a long-term contract in July 2023, having previously captained England youth groups. A six-month loan at Real Union in Spain’s regionalised third tier this year was thought to have benefited the 19-year-old’s development, as he lived away from home and performed consistently. Feeney is yet to play for loan side Shrewsbury Town due to a small injury, while Swinkels stayed at Villa owing to the esteem he is held in and the squad being light in central defence. Swinkels had late interest from League One in the last 48 hours of the window, but Villa decided to keep him.
He has been unfortunate with injuries in recent years, having had trouble with concussion before rupturing his ACL in March 2023.
As a sign of his standing, Swinkels was involved in several analysis sessions with Emery’s staff during his spell on the sidelines, with his recovery from injury led by a physio who serves as a bridge between the academy and the first team. There is a view that the Dutch defender, 20, is comparable with Pau Torres as he is left-footed.
Lino Sousa is the exception among the academy players listed, given he only joined from Arsenal in January and cannot be classed as homegrown. Even though the left-back has spent pre-season with the under-21s rather than the first team, Sousa is well-liked internally. The 19-year-old headed out on loan having fielded an enquiry from Watford, but joined Bristol Rovers where becoming a starter is a priority.
Under-21 captain Todd Alcock is in a different boat, influenced by Villa’s upcoming participation in the UEFA Youth League, comprising the youth teams of clubs competing in this season’s Champions League. This is seen to be an attraction for the midfielder, who will stay for the first part of the campaign before assessing his options in January. At 19, Alcock is intelligent in possession and has developed leadership traits, with coaches impressed by his mentality.
Several young players are keen to move to Villa, with the academy able to prise away some of the best young talent. A case in point was George Hemmings, who joined from Nottingham Forest following lengthy negotiations.
The midfielder signed his first professional contract with Villa in January, having been unable to train during the first part of the season as the two clubs were locked in talks. Hemmings is highly regarded in scouting circles: the 17-year-old is quiet but carries a presence on the pitch, with his best position as a No 6 but can play in more advanced areas centrally and can take set pieces with both feet. The expectation is to integrate him into the under-21s and continue his progression.
Through deft recruitment and coaching expertise, Villa’s academy has plenty of external admirers. Any manager that wants to build a dynasty, like Emery, intends to blood youth in the first team. It may prove to be his next challenge.
(Top photo: Swinkels, left, and Young are said to have a bright future. Getty Images)
