Aaron Ramsey has an uncertain future at Aston Villa. The 18-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has attracted interest from Celtic and Ajax in recent weeks.
Ramsey has risen through the youth ranks to the fringes of Villa’s first team, but his future may depend on opportunities at senior level, as Gregg Evans has hinted in a Q&A for The Athletic.
The journalist believes that the ‘ambitious’ teenager would like to stay at Villa but wants to play first team football under Dean Smith, something which has so far eluded him. His brother Jacob has made the step-up and recently signed a long-term deal, so Aaron is hoping to follow in his footsteps.
When asked by a reader of The Athletic about the futures of Aaron Ramsey and Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Evans replied: “Villa want to keep hold of all their best youngsters. My understanding is that both players want to stay. They’re also both ambitious, though, and want to play, or at least see a passage into the first team.”
The attacking midfielder made 17 appearances for Villa’s under-18s, scoring six goals and supplying three assists. He has also made 16 appearances for the under-23s, scoring three goals and supplying two assists. [Transfermarkt]
Ramsey has also represented England at under-16 and under-17 level, but that has not yet translated into playing time in Villa’s first team. Smith has Ross Barkley and Jack Grealish ahead of the 18-year-old in the pecking order, so it’s no surprise that he has so far been overlooked.
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Ramsey has trained with Villa’s first team this season but isn’t quite doing enough to make their matchday squad.
Smith might need to give him an opportunity to convince him to stay, however, as otherwise Villa risk losing out on a promising academy player.
