Aston Villa Academy: ‘Little Phil Foden’ Tommi O’Reilly is the latest academy star to shine at Bodymoor Heath
Birmingham-born Tommi O’Reilly is the latest midfielder coming through the ranks of Aston Villa’s academy, and plans should be drawn up to further his progression at the club.
The 19-year-old, who is nicknamed the “little Phil Foden” by academy staff due to his silky skills and nimble footwork, has made the step up to the Under-23s look a mere formality this season.
O’Reilly is a long-serving member of the Villa academy and is another example of the grassroots scouting that the club employ in the west midlands.
Despite struggling to make an impact after signing on a scholarship at Bodymoor Heath due to injury, he was quickly cherry-picked by sporting Johan Lange as a future star and was subsequently promoted through the ranks at the club.
After impressing Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale in first-team training last season, he was subsequently included in match-day squads against Brighton and Southampton before penning a professional contract with the club in March 2022.
This season, O’Reilly has been featured for Under-23s on three occasions – picking up one assist – and the Under-21s a further eight times in which he has netted four goals, as he continues to weave his craft across several youth levels.
O’Reilly just has a god-given gift to make football look extremely simple. Recently operating as a wide midfielder for the Under-21s, the Irishman has the vision to dissect a defence with a killer pass but also has a distinct eye for goal.
His goalscoring capabilities were highlighted recently in the Young Lions’ 4-0 rout of Blackburn Rovers, in which O’Reilly scored a wonderful goal before providing his teammates with a hattrick of assists.
His goal was beautifully manufactured. Cutting in from his right wing, the youngster beat his defender before whipping a left-footed strike into the far corner of the net in a remarkable impersonation of Arjen Robben.
O’Reilly’s brilliant work in a Claret and Blue shirt can’t go unnoticed for much longer, and he could yet prove himself to be the future of the Aston Villa midfield.
In other Aston Villa news, Kirsty Hanson is starting to find her feet under Carla Ward after a tough start this season.