If Unai Emery represents Villa’s best appointment of recent seasons, then Mark Harrison is not too far behind.
Poached from West Bromwich Albion in 2019 and asked to overhaul Villa’s academy system, this is the second time since Harrison’s arrival that Villa have reached the FA Youth Cup final.
Before that, they had reached only one final in 16 years.
Former chief executive Christian Purslow believed hiring Harrison was among his most crucial decisions in five years at Villa Park.
And with the Premier League’s financial restrictions a constant headache for Villa, selling homegrown players like Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey and Jaden Philogene has been crucial. Aaron’s older brother, Jacob, may depart this summer for a significant fee to ease the pressure on the bottom line.
Mail Sport has spoken to several figures with expert knowledge of the academy, including Charlie Jennings of the excellent @academyavfc X account, to profile their six brightest stars.
Aston Villa beat Manchester United on penalties in the semi-final at Villa Park
Can this year’s crop match the Villa side of 2021 and win the Youth Cup?
TRISTON ROWE (right back/centre back)
A key member of England’s Under 19s squad, Rowe has trained with the first team and was on the bench for the domestic cup matches against Wycombe and Cardiff this term.
Rowe joined Villa from West Brom at 15 and is expected to gain his first taste of senior football next season, on loan with an EFL club.
He likes to attack from full back and has impressive dribbling and ball-carrying skills. Gareth Bale started at left back before developing into an attacker and Rowe may ultimately play as a winger at senior level.
Rowe can also play in central defence and has been highlighted for his leadership skills. His fellow youth product Kaine Kesler-Hayden shone on loan at Preston this term and Rowe may follow a similar path.
COLE BRANNIGAN (attacking midfield)
Like his more famous namesake, Brannigan likes to perform the ‘shivering’ celebration when scoring. He has a way to go to reach the level of Cole Palmer but the signs are promising.
Villa’s academy recruitment is a key pillar of their overall strategy and Brannigan has made an impression since moving from Northern Irish club Linfield two years ago, notably with a stunning chip to seal victory over Plymouth in the quarter-final of this year’s campaign.
Despite his slight frame, Brannigan’s high technical level enables him to make an impact against more powerful players although it will be interesting to see whether this slows his progress as he moves towards senior football.
JAMALDEEN JIMOH-ALOBA (attacking midfield/forward)
Jimoh-Aloba is another player brought from West Brom and considered perhaps the most talented of the current Under 18s crop.
He is a natural technician who can run with the ball and create and score goals – exactly the qualities that persuaded Unai Emery to sign Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough in January 2024.
Jimoh-Aloba has already made his senior debut, as a late substitute in the FA Cup win over Cardiff in February, as well as featuring in three EFL Trophy matches this term.
He has represented England at youth level and is described by Harrison as ‘a good ball manager who can be effective in and around both penalty boxes.’
It would be no surprise to see him spend part of pre-season with the first-team squad, perhaps ahead of a loan or – in the PSR world – even a sale with a buyback option to a club in the EFL.
Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba is another player brought from West Brom and considered perhaps the most talented of the current Under 18s crop
WOODY BURGESS (centre midfield/right back)
Burgess is eligible for both England and Germany and started with Cheltenham Town before being taken by Villa. He has already played for Germany at youth level.
With Emery prizing versatility above nearly every other asset in the modern game, Burgess’ ability to play in both defence and midfield is sure to have caught the eye of those who run the first team.
He has an excellent range of passing and a knack of hanging on to possession in tight spaces.
Players of Burgess’ potential mean the Villa youth set-up is regarded nearly as highly as those of Chelsea and Manchester City. If he can help them to victory in the Final, Burgess’ reputation – and that of the club – will only continue to grow.
SAM PROCTOR (goalkeeper)
Though he has never made a first-team appearance, Proctor already knows what it is like to be booed by a hostile stadium before a Champions League quarter-final.
On the bench for Villa’s tie against Paris Saint-Germain last month, Proctor emerged for the warm-up at Parc des Princes to be greeted by whistles and catcalls from all sides of the ground, having been mistaken for Emiliano Martinez.
Martinez is the arch-villain of the French sporting public and so desperate were they to shout abuse at the Argentine that few realised they were actually targeting Proctor.
The episode should prepare Proctor for the tests ahead. Villa signed him from Peterborough and appreciate how comfortable he is with ball at feet. A big future ahead.
Sam Proctor was on the bench for the Champions League quarter-final second leg in Paris
A bright future lies ahead for Proctor, who saved three penalties in the semi-final shootout win over Manchester United at Villa Park in March
Villa signed him from Peterborough and appreciate how comfortable he is with ball at feet. A big future ahead
MASON COTCHER (forward)
Villa won the race for the centre forward after his decided against signing a professional contract with Sunderland.
There was a significant compensation fee involved and there has been a good deal of noise about Cotcher in youth circles for some time.
He has scored five goals in Villa’s run to the final, as well as registering four in the Uefa Youth League, and belongs to an agency that has Bayern Munich stars Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane on its client list.
Cotcher catches the eye for his raw finishing ability and leadership qualities. He also made three appearances in the EFL Trophy this season.
