Ashley Young Bio Send To Friend  

Aston Villa paid £8m, rising to £9.75m with add-ons, in the January transfer window for Young after he shone during the first-half of the 2006-07 season with newly promoted Watford.

Eyebrows were raised at the price, but a goal on his Villa debut went someway to dispelling doubts and Young's pace, delivery from set-pieces and dribbling skills have seen him rise to become one of the best young players in the League.

At the beginning of his career Young was turned away from Watford after an unsuccessful spell, but made the improvements needed and was eventually offered a permanent deal.

Given his first team debut in 2003 against Millwall, the youngster came off the bench to score. However the 21-year-old really came to prominence in the 2004-05 season. Although he failed to score, Young was instrumental with his pinpoint crosses and set-piece delivery and played an integral part of Watford's success. This earned him the honour of being given the club's 'Young Player of the Season' award.

Under Hornets manager Adrian Boothroyd, Young really made his name as a striker and, in the promotion winning season of 2005-06, he earned a call-up to Peter Taylor's England U-21 League squad.

Despite his slight build, Young's pace and trickery caused the Premier League's defenders a whole host of problems and, attracting a host of attention in the January transfer window, Young was the subject to at least seven bids from Premiership clubs.

Watford rebuffed all offers but were persuaded to consider his sale when West Ham United came in with an £8m offer. Young himself rejected the move to Upton Park, preferring a side who weren't struggling against relegation, and instead chose Aston Villa who matched the Hammers' offer.

Martin O'Neill's faith was proved right as Young had a terrific season, earning a call-up to the full England squad to face Russia and Israel in the Euro 2008 qualifiers and finishing the season in the Premier League 2007-08 Team of the Year.

The following year, Young began the season in fine form and helped Aston Villa to challenge for the Champions League spots. The club's push for glory dwindled in 2009, but Young capped a fine season by netting the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Fellow left-winger Stewart Downing's arrival from Middlesbrough led to speculation that Young may be about leave the club in the summer, but he commited his future to Villa Park, despite being linked with Chelsea and Liverpool and pushed himself into contention for a starting place in Capello's XI.