Aston Villa set to confirm arrival of West Brom player | OneFootball

Aston Villa are set to snatch another youngster away from the clutches of local rivals West Bromwich Albion with the imminent capture of Tim Iroegbunam, per Football Insider.

It was reported earlier in July that the two clubs had agreed a compensation fee for the 18-year-old’s services, with the midfielder rejecting the chance to turn professional with the Baggies.

The teenager was announced as the club’s Academy Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season, having played 14 times for the under-18’s in the youth Premier League but he also made the step up to the under-23 side, who he played for eight times towards the end of the campaign.

Iroegbunam is not the only West Brom youngster to make the move to Villa Park this month, with fellow midfielder Finn Azaz also completing a move earlier this week before being sent on loan to Newport County following his spell with Cheltenham Town last season.

Quiz: What was the score the last time West Brom played at each of these 24 stadiums?

1 of 24

What was the score when West Brom last played at Goodison Park?

4-2

5-2

5-3

4-3

And they will join another ex-Baggie in Louie Barry – who departed for Barcelona in 2019 before returning to England with Villa a year later and all these deals may have something to do with academy manager Mark Harrison, who swapped The Hawthorns for Villa Park two years ago.

The Verdict

This could be an exciting pick-up for Villa – although we will only see in a few years if Iroegbunam has really developed into a talent.

He was clearly highly thought of at The Hawthorns having been included in the final matchday squad of the 2020-21 season against Leeds United, and that could have been an incentive for him to pen a professional deal at the club.

But he’s taken a gamble by joining Villa, who have a good academy setup as it is, but his pathway into the senior squad may be slightly tougher considering they seem to be big spenders nowadays.

West Brom will be gutted to lose a homegrown talent but it’s a cut-throat business and they’ll be looking to develop another young midfielder in Iroegbunam’s place.