Aston Villa confirm nine players sign on ahead of 2023/24

Aston Villa have announced the latest intake of scholars to join the academy’s under-18 squad.

Nine players have signed their scholarships, and the club hope to have more scholars signing on in the near future.

The new intake will play under Gerard Nash next season, while some of them already have experience of U18 Premier League football. Nash was appointed the lead under-18 professional development phase coach last summer after previously working at the FA of Ireland and Ipswich Town.

Sam Proctor is a goalkeeper who penned his scholarship this month, having joined Villa back in 2021 from Peterborough United. Villa paid maximum permitted £100,000 for Proctor, and this will rise to £150,000 if the teenager signs a professional deal at Villa Park. He has represented England at youth level and was a member of the club’s under-16 squad that won the Premier League National Tournament last season.

Ashton McWilliams was also a member of the under-16 squad that won the Premier League National Tournament, and the right-back has played for the under-18 side. McWilliams made two appearances in Premier League 2 last term, and featured over 176 minutes.

Highly-rated Triston Rowe has also signed his scholarship, having featured for the club’s under-18 and under-21 sides last season. Rowe can play right-back or centre-back and has been of interest to other clubs across the country, including Chelsea. Rowe made 12 appearances in the U18 Premier League last term and scored one goal, while he also featured in the EFL Trophy and the FA Youth Cup. He captained Villa at the Premier League National Tournament last season.

Max Asante-Boakye is a centre-back who featured in the club’s under-16 Premier League National Tournament success last season. Villa didn’t conceded a goal in the six matches they played at the tournament.

Max Lott is a creative midfielder who made two appearances for in the U18 Premier League last season. He scored one goal in the two matches he played. He was also a member of the Under-16 squad that won the Premier League National Tournament.

Versatile midfielder TJ Carroll can operate across a variety of positions and was a member of the Under-16 squad that won the Premier League National Tournament.

Ben Broggio is a creative attacking player who is effective in the final third of the pitch. He has represented England at youth level and has made eight appearances in the U18 Premier League already, scoring three goals last season. He starred in the Premier League National Tournament too.

Trai-Varn Mulley is an exciting winger who has also experienced U18 Premier League football after winning the Premier League National Tournament back in October.

Luka Lynch has featured for the club’s under-18s since 2021/22, and made 12 appearances in the U18 Premier League last term. He was also a member of the Under-16 squad that won the Premier League National Tournament.

Lat season, Rory Wilson, Sam Lewis, Alex Hammond, Nile Timson, Jack McDowell, Archie Duerden, Thierry Katsukunya, I-Lani Edwards, Abube Onuchukwu, Dylan Mitchell, Omari Kellyman, Travis Patterson, Charlie Pavey and Kadan Young all signed scholarships.