Aston Villa starlet Ben Chrisene named among Guardian’s next-gen talents

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Aston Villa will be hoping to have one of the country’s top talents on their hands in Ben Chrisene, after the teenager was named among The Guardian’s best next-gen talents.

The list details players born between 2003 and 2004 who are classed as first-year scholars, and the Guardian has picked out Chrisene as top of the pops for Villa.

Chrisene, who signed for the Villans from Exeter City in the summer, is already said to be making waves at Villa Park.

Indeed, according to the report, Villa beat off competition from Liverpool and Bayern Munich to land Chrisene, something which academy manager Mark Harrison was said to be ‘delighted’ about.

Villa splashed the cash this summer on a number of top players to help Dean Smith. But the signing of Chrisene could prove a shrewd move too, given he has already played in League Two at the tender age of 15.

Record breaker

That appearance for Exeter means Chrisene trumped Ethan Ampadu to become the youngest player to appear for City in their history.

That in iteslf is quite the achievement. And at Villa, the 16-year-old has the chance to learn from some fine midfield players, with Villa possessing the likes of Jack Grealish, Conor Hourihane, and now, Ross Barkley, within their ranks.

Investing in youth is going to be just as key for Villa as signing big names in each window for the immediate.

With backing already from his academy boss and having fought off two giants in Bayern and Liverpool, the Midlands club will hold big hopes for Chrisene heading into the next few seasons.