Aston Villa Under-23s and Academy
Player DOB Position First-Team Debut First-Team Appearances First-Team Goals Current Team
James Collins 1 December 1990 Forward 24 October 2009 ( League Two with Darlington F.C . ) 0 0 Luton Town
Ciaran Clark 26 September 1989 Defender 30 August 2009 ( vs Fulham ) 159 10 Newcastle United F.C . & Ireland
Shane Lowry 12 June 1989 Defender 20 August 2009 ( vs Rapid Vienna ) 3 0 Perth Glory
Marc Albrighton 18 November 1989 Midfielder 26 February 2009 ( vs CSKA Moscow ) 101 9 Leicester City
Barry Bannan 1 December 1989 Midfielder 17 December 2008 ( vs Hamburger SV ) 83 2 Sheffield Wednesday & Scotland
Nathan Delfouneso 2 February 1991 Forward 14 August 2008 ( vs FH ) 50 9 Blackpool
Bobby Olejnik 26 November 1986 Goalkeeper 24 November 2007 ( Scottish Premier League with Falkirk F.C . ) 0 0 Mansfield Town
Zoltán Stieber 16 October 1988 Midfielder 24 November 2007 ( League Two with Yeovil Town F.C . ) 0 0 D.C. United & Hungary
Daniel Sturridge 1 September 1989 Forward 3 February 2007 ( Premier League with Manchester City ) 0 0 Trabzonspor & England
Stephen O'Halloran 29 November 1987 Defender 31 October 2006 ( League Two with Wycombe Wanderers ) 0 0 Stalybridge Celtic
Isaiah Osbourne 15 November 1987 Midfielder 21 October 2006 ( vs Fulham ) 30 0 Nuneaton Borough
Gary Cahill 19 December 1985 Defender 1 April 2006 ( vs Arsenal ) 31 1 Crystal Palace
Gabriel Agbonlahor 13 October 1986 Forward 18 March 2006 ( vs Everton ) 391 86 Retired
Jamie Ward 12 May 1986 Striker 7 March 2006 ( League Two with Stockport County F.C . ) 0 0 Scunthorpe United
Craig Gardner 25 November 1986 Midfielder 26 December 2005 ( vs Everton ) 80 6 Birmingham City
Steven Davis 1 January 1985 Midfielder 18 September 2004 ( vs Norwich City ) 102 9 Southampton & Northern Ireland
Wayne Henderson 16 September 1983 Goalkeeper 13 March 2004 ( Conference Premier with Tamworth F.C . ) 0 0 Retired
Luke Moore 13 February 1986 Forward 22 February 2004 ( vs Birmingham City ) 98 14 Unattached
Peter Whittingham 8 September 1984 Midfielder 23 April 2003 ( vs Newcastle United ) 66 2 Unattached
Liam Ridgewell 21 July 1984 Defender 4 January 2003 ( vs Blackburn Rovers ) 93 7 Southend United
Notable Academy Graduates -- 2000s
The Aston Villa Under-23, also known as Aston Villa Under-21 and Aston Villa Reserves, are the most senior youth development team of Aston Villa and compete in Premier League 2 (Division 2) of the Professional Development League and the EFL Trophy in the 2019-20 season. The team were originally part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and were winners of the 2011-12 Premier Reserve League South title, the last in that format. The team plays its home games at Aston Villa's training ground, Bodymoor Heath and occasionally Villa Park. Aston Villa also have an academy side that competes in the Under-18 division of the Professional Development League and the FA Youth Cup annually. From 2019, having been promoted back to the Premier League, Aston Villa also field an under-21 side in the EFL Trophy against League One and League Two opposition. The side has been successful in recent years, as well as becoming national champions in the 2003-04 and 2009-10 seasons, the team also clinched four out of five Southern Championships between 2007 and 2012, before the format changed to the Professional Development League. The side also won the NextGen Series in 2013, a Europe-wide tournament for elite academies. Current first-team players Keinan Davis, Andre Green and Jack Grealish all came through the youth system at the club, as well as former players Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ciaran Clark, Gary Cahill, Gareth Barry, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Darius Vassell, Craig Gardner, Marc Albrighton, Andreas Weimann and Steven Davis amongst many others. The Villa academy also developed former England striker Daniel Sturridge and Birmingham City midfielder Daniel Crowley. The U23 team is primarily made up of players under the age of 23, although three over-age outfield players and an over-age goalkeeper may be named in a matchday squad. These may include fringe first-team players and first-team players recovering from injury.