Aston Villa have completed the signing of West Bromwich Albion youngster Triston Rowe.
Rowe, an England Under-15 international, follows Tim Iroegbunam in leaving the Baggies’ youth set-up for their Midlands rivals.
Iroegbunam was fast-tracked to the Under-23s last season, and his performances earned him the Academy Player of the Year award (via Birmingham Mail). Villa will have to pay six-figure compensation after striking the deal.
And a third West Brom starlet could yet make the switch. Football Insider reported earlier in July that Villa had reached an agreement with 20-year-old midfielder Finn Azaz, and that move could be tied-up ‘soon’.
West Brom are back in the Championship after their Premier League return lasted just a single season. They amassed only 26 points over the course of the 38-game season, leaving them a full 13 points adrift of safety.
Fan feed WBA Report relayed the news about Rowe, and here’s what supporters made of it.
These West Brom fans as another youngster lured to Villa
“Brilliant, at this rate we’re not going to have any youngsters to develop”
Credit: @Matthew31241
“What on earth is happening to our academy?”
Credit: @Timmy_Tierney
“You can thank Luke Dowling for this, about 7 players and 8 academy staff gone to the Villa because of him!”
Credit: @MattHill821
“May as well close the academy and save the money, pointless wasting money on it at this rate!”
Credit: @ParsonsJR91
“Horrendous!!!…Villa youth team should be called WBA B team”
Credit: @gillpind
“At this point just close the academy”
Credit: @joecox1999
In other news, West Brom have approached a former ‘big six’ man.