From Birmingham to Riyadh: The Cultural Shift for a Villa Academy Graduate

After leaving the Midlands last year, former Aston Villa starlet Brad Young may be about to make a career-changing transfer to the Saudi Pro League.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 31: Referee David Coote reacts to Leicester City’s Wout Faes (left) and Caleb Okoli during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Aston Villa FC at The King Power Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Stephen White – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Al-Orobah of the Saudi Pro League are ‘near’ to signing the forward, according to the Saudi publication Arriyadiyah. Today is the transfer deadline, and Young, who currently plays in the mostly semi-professional Cymru Premier division, may make a move to a league that is home to international players like N’Golo Kante, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema.

Young, who was born in Solihull, attended West Brom’s youth program before being let go at the age of twelve to join Aston Villa. He played only one game for the first team, a 29-minute cameo against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2021, as a member of the youthful Aston Villa team.

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He was a strong finisher for the under-18 and under-21 teams at the academy, amassing 42 goals in 74 games. He had loan stints at Carlisle United and Ayr United during his stay at the club, but he left in the summer of 2023 to relocate to Wales.

Young played a key role in leading TNS to their 16th league title overall last term, having joined the team after they had just won the top division of Welsh football for the second year in a row. The forward won the league’s top scorer award with 22 goals in 25 games after making 36 appearances across all competitions.