Credit: Getty Images

James Barker

Fri 10 April 2026 16:30, UK

Tommi O’Reilly has been superb on loan with Crewe Alexandra this season, and the winger could now be ready to stake a first-team claim at Aston Villa this summer.

The 22-year-old first joined Aston Villa’s academy system aged just seven, and is a boyhood Villans fan.

As such, he’ll no doubt be desperate to become a first-team star at Villa Park in the future, but so far, he’s made just one competitive appearance for the senior side, and that was back in the 2023-24 season.

Since then, the versatile midfielder has spent time out on loan with Real Union, Shrewsbury, MK Dons and now Crewe, whom he signed for on a season-long loan deal last summer.

And now, with just weeks to go in their Premier League season, Aston Villa will already be formulating plans for which of their young prospects will be handed a chance to catch Unai Emery‘s attention in this summer’s pre-season.

How has Tommi O’Reilly performed for Crewe this season?

Aston Villa could face interest in O’Reilly this summer, with recent reports suggesting that numerous EFL clubs such as Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town are monitoring his situation.

That’s not surprising either, as he’s been absolutely fantastic for League Two Crewe this season, and has established himself as one of the best players in the fourth tier this term.

Predominantly operating as a right winger, but also spending time playing through the middle as an attacking midfielder, O’Reilly has fired home six goals and provided 11 assists in 42 league games.

He’s been a huge part of Crewe’s play-off push as a result, with Lee Bell’s side currently sitting one place below them in eighth, two points behind Chesterfield in seventh with four games to go.

As per an X post from OptaJoe, no player in either League Two or League One have been able to do what O’Reilly has this season, and that is provide more than five goals and 10 assists, as well as creating over 60 chances (61).

That’s a huge accolade for the youngster, and provides some concrete evidence that he’s a player that is ready for a significant step up in level and challenge from next season onwards.

O’Reilly could be primed to capitalise on Villa’s midfield situation

So, at 22 and having had a barnstormer of a season that could yet end with a promotion, O’Reilly looks ready to really start kicking on in his senior career.

And, if there was perhaps any summer to stake your claim as a young right-winger at Aston Villa, it might just be this upcoming one.

That department is arguably where Villa have been at their weakest this season, with Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliot to return to Man United and Liverpool respectively, whilst Leon Bailey is likely to leave as well.

John McGinn isn’t getting any younger at 31, and teenager Alysson may require a loan spell or two before he’s ready to make a first-team impression at B6.

So, there looks set to be a host of exits and upheaval taking place down Villa’s right flank over the summer, and that may leave Emery extremely thin on the ground for options there.

Therefore, pre-season could provide a huge opportunity for O’Reilly to play some minutes before any new arrivals may join, but even if they do, his exploits at Crewe are sure to see Villa’s coaches wanting to take a closer look at him.