Villa have completed the signing of a U.S under-18 international.
General view before the game – Villa Park
Aston Villa may be looking to make moves in the transfer market to make an immediate impact in their hope of an immediate return to the Premier League – but they are still keeping their eyes out for top young talent.
That has been demonstrated by the signing of 16-year-old Callum Stretch this week.
As reported in the Los Angeles Times the Californian, who has dual citizenship, has signed a two-year deal at Villa rather than staying as a senior at Notre Dame high school.
The 6 ft 3 ins tall midfielder or defender has played for the LA Galaxy youth team and the US under-18s. He has also played for FC Golden State, whose official website he had this to say to this week:
“This is a very exciting opportunity for me, and I am honored to be a part of Aston Villa’s great history and heritage.
“Any success I have I owe to hard work and to my parents, who pushed me to excel and always believed in me.”
General view of a Police officer outside the stadium – Villa Park
Stretch had also been on trial at both Sheffield Wednesday and Tottenham Hotspur when he was 14.
Stretch is likely to play with the under-18s this season but will have his eyes on stepping up to the under-21s before the end of the campaign.
The youngster is highly rated across the water and the hope will be that Stretch can go on to become a first-team regular at Villa Park.
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