Aston Villa hand seven youngsters pro contracts

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Aston Villa hand seven youngsters pro contracts

Aston Villa have awarded professional contracts to seven Academy players in the club's Under-23s.

Kaine Kesler Hayden has signed a five-year contract and Mungo Bridge, Akos Onodi, Viljami Sinisalo, Myles Sohna, DJ Sturridge and Tyreik Wright have all signed new deals at the club, reports AVFC.co.uk.

Right-back Kesler Hayden, 18, made his impressive first-team debut against Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup in January and was subsequently named in Villa's matchday 20 for four Premier League matches. The England Under-19 international duly captained the club to FA Youth Cup glory in May.

Centre-back Bridge, 20, was one of 16 players to make his senior bow against the Reds and spent the majority of the campaign with the U23 squad.

Hungarian goalkeeper Onodi, 19, was outstanding when he also made his first-team debut against Liverpool and made 16 appearances in Premier League 2 last season.

Fellow keeper Sinisalo, 19, has represented Finland at various age groups and spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Scottish Championship side Ayr United, where he kept nine clean sheets in all competitions.

Centre-back Sohna, 19, made seven appearances for the U23s in PL2 last season and enjoyed five consecutive starts for Mark Delaney's side from January through to March.

Striker Sturridge, 19, featured heavily for Villa in PL2 during the opening part of the campaign but his season was unfortunately curtailed by injury in November.

Winger Wright, 19, was an ever-present for the U23s in PL2 in the first half of last season before joining League Two side Walsall on loan, making 16 league appearances and providing three assists. He also made his debut for Republic of Ireland Under-21s in March.