Villa welcome scholars to U18s

Aston Villa is pleased to unveil the latest intake of scholars to join the Academy’s Under-18 squad.

Rory Wilson, the young striker who signed from Glasgow Rangers recently, will be joined by the following in the Under-18s for the forthcoming campaign.

Sam Lewis, a goalkeeper, has been with the club since Under-9s and has already been involved with the Under-18s on matchdays. He has also attended England training camps.

Another goalkeeper, Alex Hammond, has also been to England Under-16 training camps and has been with the Club since Under-13s.

Nile Timson, Jack McDowell, Archie Duerden and Thierry Katsukunya are additions to the defensive unit. Timson is a tall, rangy defender who can also operate in holding midfield, McDowell uses the ball well in possession while Duerden is a ball-playing centre-half who puts his body on the line. All three have been at Aston Villa since Under-9s. Katsukunya is a competitive defender who joined the club from Coventry City at Under-16 level.

Pictured (left to right): Abube Onuchukwu, Thierry Katsukunya, Nile Timson, Sam Lewis, Dylan Mitchell, Travis Patterson, Charlie Pavey, Kadan Young, Archie Duerden, Omari Kellyman, I-Lani Edwards, Alex Hammond, Jack McDowell, Rory Wilson

I-Lani Edwards, a central midfielder, has been at the club since the age of 10 and is a box-to-box operator capable of linking play. Abube Onuchukwu and Dylan Mitchell are also both central midfielders: the former is a technical, box-to-box player while the latter has a good passing range and is effective with his delivery from set-pieces. Both joined at Under-13 level.

Omari Kellyman is an attacking midfielder who joined from Derby County and has represented Northern Ireland Under-19s while still a 16-year-old. Technically gifted with an eye for goal.

The new intake is completed by a trio of wide attacking players: Travis Patterson, Charlie Pavey and Kadan Young. Patterson has played for Villa’s Under-23s a number of times already and has represented England at Under-17 level. Pavey is a technical, creative player who can also score goals while Young is another creative, skilful talent who has played for Villa’s Under-23s already and has represented England’s Under-16s.

Congratulations to each of our new scholars!