Aston Villa had a Premier League campaign to forget last season, finishing bottom of the division in a season only beaten in its mediocrity by the 2007/08 campaign that saw Derby finish with only 11 points. However, they Midlands-based side are favoured to bounce back up at the first time of asking.
Villa haven’t been prolific in the transfer market during this summer’s window, bringing in only keeper Pierluigi Gollini from Hellas Verona (£4.25m), defender Tommy Elphick from Bournemouth (£3m) and central midfielder Aaron Tshibola from Reading (£5m) but they have moved a little more left-field and further away with their latest capture according to a USA Today – High School Sports article.
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According to the USA Today – High School Sports article, youngster Callum Stretch is a 16-year-old California prospect who was a standout star at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High School. Stretch is a 6ft 3in central defender who has foregone his senior year of school to move over to Birmingham and sign on at Villa on a two-year contract.
Stretch isn’t a signing destined to be shoehorned into the first team, rather he is to ply his trade at Villa as part of their Under-18s side, something that should suit him better as he has already played for the U.S. U-18s.
Stretch, who got a taste of the action wearing the Villa strip in a 15-minute appearance in the 2-0 win against Derby County, is understandably enthused at this next, big step in his football career. Quoted on the FC Golden State website, who are his former club, the Encino-born Stretch said: ” “This is a very exciting opportunity for me, and I am honored to be a part of Aston Villa’s great history and heritage,”
