Done deal: Aston Villa sign midfield sensation George Hemmings from Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa have completed the signing of 16-year-old midfield sensation George Hemmings from Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.
The Villans announced the signing on their official website (9 January) with the 16-year-old a “highly-regarded” midfield talent who will link up with the club’s under-18s team.
Hemmings has also represented England at under-16 level and could be a talent for the Aston Villa fans to get excited about in the future.
Hemmings is a central midfielder who has good athletic and technical qualities and possesses a good presence at the heart of the midfield handing the Villans another remarkable talent on their hands.
Academy Manager Mark Harrison said: “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.”
The Villans have been known to possess some of the country’s biggest talents over a number of years now but fans will not have been happy to see the likes of Cameron Archer, Jaden Philogene and Aaron Ramsey leave the club in search of greener pastures because of a lack of opportunities in the first team.
However, despite those exits, there is still plenty of talent within the club’s setup for the fans to get excited about, especially the likes of Rico Richards, Kaden Young and Omari Kellymen who are the standout trio for the under-21s.
It is brilliant seeing Aston Villa secure deals for more promising talents and having the ability to snap them up from under the noses of their local rivals is tremendous business but also highlights the great pull the club has when identifying talent and persuading them to join the Birmingham ranks.
Hemmings looks yet another stunning pickup for the club and there remains the hope that Bodymoor Heath will provide him with the tools and resources to fulfil his incredible potential and huge ceiling.
Excellent business from Aston Villa who are now gradually becoming one of the best hubs of academy talent in the country.
In other Aston Villa news, one Premier League 2024 rule change could spell bad news for a big-money signing at Villa Park.