Aston Villa academy graduate and Solihull youngster completes Saudi Pro League transfer - one year after Villa Park release

Al-Orobah have announced the signing of former Aston Villa striker Young, who joins from TNS, who play in the Cymru Premier, a division which is mainly semi-professional. He will now swap playing in front of crowds of just over 300 to move to a league that boasts global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante. 

Young was born in Solihull and came through the youth academy at West Brom, before joining Aston Villa after being released as a 12-year-old. He was part of the young Aston Villa side that lined up against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2021, with that 29-minute cameo being his only appearance for the first team.

At academy level he was a potent finisher, netting an impressive 42 goals in 74 appearances for the under-18 and under-21 teams. During his time at the club, he had loan spells at Ayr United and Carlisle United, but he departed in the summer of 2023 and opted to move to Wales. 

Young joined TNS after they had just won the top flight of Welsh football for the second year running, and he played an instrumental part last term, as he helped them to their 16th league title in total. The forward scored 29 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions and his 22 goals in 25 games in the league saw him win the top scorer award.

Earlier in the year it was reported that Rotherham United, along with Scottish Premiership side Hearts and German outfit Augsburg had been tracking the striker. In July, there was a claim that scouts from Bristol City, as well as other clubs, were sent to watch Young in action during a UEFA Champions League qualifier. 

Young played in the Champions League against FK Decic of Montenegro and then Hungarian champions Ferencvaros before dropping into the Europa League where he played against Petrocub of Moldova. His side have just qualified for the group stages of the UEFA Conference League, but a move to the Middle East now beckons, where he could find himself brushing shoulders with some of the best players in world football. 

Al-Orobah in recent days have signed former Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on loan from West Ham. They also have former Burnley forward Johann Berg Gudmundsson and ex-Fulham and Hull City midfielder Jean Michael Seri. Should Young complete his move to Al-Orobah, he would be joining a side that are just outside of the relegation zone, though the season is only two games in.