Aston Villa confirm January transfer from Premier League rival
The latest Aston Villa transfer news as the midfielder has joined from Nottingham Forest and will link up with the club's U18 team.
by Amie Wilson, https://www.facebook.com/amiewilsonjournalist/ · Birmingham LiveAston Villa have confirmed the signing of George Hemmings, who will join up with the club’s academy.
The 16-year-old has joined from fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest and will go straight into Villa’s Under-18s team. He has three caps for England 16s.
Reacting to the arrival Villa academy manager Mark Harrison told the club’s official website: “We are delighted George has joined us from Nottingham Forest.
“He is a central midfielder who has good athletic and technical qualities and has a good presence on the pitch. He has represented England at Under-16 level and will initially join our Under-18 squad. We look forward to seeing how he develops over the next few years.”
READ MORE: €25m Philippe Coutinho transfer claim after Aston Villa summer exit
READ MORE: Aston Villa handed Cyril Ngonge transfer update as club set for talks
Hemmings has come through the youth system with Forest. He featured for Villa in the recent U18 Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal last month.
He was first linked with a move to Villa Park back in April after he joined in with first-team training at Forest last season under Steve Cooper.
Last season saw him make a total of 20 appearances in all competitions for Forest’s youth teams, including two for the club’s U23s. He was also a regular for the club’s U18s side.
Youth players are only able to sign their first professional contract with the club when they turn 17, so Villa are likely to have agreed scholar terms with Hemmings until his 17th birthday in just a few months.
The signing is the latest in Villa’s aim to improve their academy to benefit the future. Several signings have been made over the last few years with the hope that they will able to make their way through the ranks and have an impact on Unai Emery’s first team.