Aston Villa’s reputation for developing talented youngsters is one of the best in England, and for new manager Unai Emery, the Spanish coach could use the youth academy to his advantage.
The former Villarreal and Arsenal boss is a fan of bringing through young players and establishing them in his first-team plans, with Bukayo Saka arguably the Spaniard’s biggest success story in recent years, as well as the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Yeremy Pino.
Whilst the majority of Villa’s best talents are spending this season out on loan, there’s a good chance that numerous players will be given a chance by Emery in 2023, with the board likely hopeful that the four-time UEFA Europa League winner can help develop the next generation.
Emery’s youth development record is an impressive one, and with Villa enjoying something of a golden generation of promising talents in their tanks, here are five players the former La Liga manager can develop who could soon become regulars for the Villains in the years to come.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden
One of three players on this list spending the season out on loan in the Championship, England youth international Kaine Kesler-Hayden is a talent who has long caught the eye of Villa supporters, with the youngster this year learning the trade of senior football at Huddersfield Town.
At 20-years-old, Kesler-Hayden is reaching a stage of his career where he will be feeling confident in his abilities to play Premier League football, and with Matty Cash in need of a natural backup next season, the Birmingham-born youngster could be quite the option for Emery next season.
Josh Feeney
Signed from Fleetwood Town last year, 17-year-old Josh Feeney has asserted himself as a regular for Villa’s U-21s over the last 12 months, and whilst Emery might not be comfortable starting a youngster so inexperienced at centre-back just yet, early signs are promising.
An England international at U-18s, Feeney has the potential to become a defensive superstar for Villa, and Emery could find himself confident enough to give the teenager his professional debut in 2023 if the defender continues to impress in the youth ranks.
Aaron Ramsey
Jacob Ramsey’s career has exploded over the past year following his breakout season last campaign under Steven Gerrard, and the youngster’s brother, Aaron, could soon make a name for himself if the youngster’s performances out on loan for Norwich City are anything to go by.
A goalscoring midfielder who has shone for both club and country at numerous youth levels, Ramsey is primed to follow in his brother’s footsteps in 2023, and if Jacob’s success is anything to go by, Aaron might be Emery’s prized youngster if the 19-year-old can impress for his boyhood club.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace
Jaden Philogene-Bidace was something of a late bloomer in Villa’s academy, yet the 20-year-old winger is starting to find his feet in the senior game with the attacker currently out on loan with Cardiff City, the youngster’s second spell away from Villa Park.
Fast and technical, Philogene-Bidace has the potential to become quite the talent for Villa if he can continue his development in the Championship. And given Emery’s style of play, the youngster could become a regular next season if the winger impresses with Cardiff in the coming months.
Cameron Archer
If there’s one Villa youngster who looked set to become a superstar under Gerrard, it was Cameron Archer. However, things didn’t quite work out for the talismanic youth striker, yet the forward now has a chance to go again under Emery.
Whilst Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins will likely remain Villa’s first-choice centre-forwards, Archer could be given a chance by Emery should the English duo fail to produce yet again in the coming weeks, and the 20-year-old will doubt take the opportunity with both hands if given a chance to impress.
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