Former Aston Villa wonderkid ‘close to joining’ 11th club of his career at 31-years old

A former Aston Villa striker is reportedly closing on a move to the 11th club of his senior career at the age of just 31.

Nathan Delfouneso, who came through the youth ranks at Villa and featured for the first team between 2008 and 2014, is set to sign for EFL League One side Accrington Stanley after leaving their division rivals Bolton Wanderers in the summer - according to the Manchester Evening News.

The former England Under 21 forward is currently a free agent after leaving Wanderers at the end of last season having spent the latter half of the campaign on loan at EFL League Two side Bradford City.

Villa fans will remember Delfouneso as one of the brightest young players to come through their youth academy at the time but he failed to ever nail down a regular starting spot at Villa Park and has played exclusively in the Football League since departing his boyhood club.

What happened to Nathan Delfouneso after leaving Aston Villa?

Villa fans were high on the English striker when he broke into the first team in the 2008/09 season as a 17 year old.

He made his first team debut in a UEFA Cup qualifying match against Icelandic side FH Hafnarfjörður after impressing in the reserve squad.

During his first two seasons in the Villa Park first team he made a total of 26 appearances across all competitions and scored six goals.

He was recognised for his potential and ability by winning both the club and supporters Young Player of the Year awards in both the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons.

After 25 appearances for England at Under 19 level he progressed to the Under 21 squad but this was the highest level of international recognition he would get with 18 appearances and four goals between 2010 and 2012.

He struggled for regular appearances at Villa and was allowed to move on loan to Burnley in the EFL Championship for the latter part of the 2010/11 season.

Loan moves to fellow Championship clubs Leicester City and Blackpool followed and the striker only managed eight goals over 70 appearances for the second tier sides before Villa took the decision to release him on a free at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Since then he has spent most of his career over multiple loan and permanent spells with Blackpool across the EFL while also turning out for Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Bury, Swindon Town, Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City.