Aston Villa had completed a significant coup when Rory Wilson signed in the summer of 2022.
Among scouting circles and interested clubs, Wilson was rated highly, regarded as a natural goalscorer and archetypal No 9 — a rarity in the modern game — breaking scoring records in Rangers’ academy at the age of 16 and convincing Villa, despite the protracted difficulty in extracting him from his contract, he was more than worth the effort.
Wilson scored 49 goals at youth level the season before he joined Villa. The deal was struck at the eleventh hour after the two clubs avoided Wilson’s future being determined by FIFA’s resolution committee. The Athletic reported the agreed price was worth £350,000 with add-ons potentially increasing the figure to £1million ($1.3m). Within the agreement, Rangers held a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
The dispute centred on Wilson’s amateur contract as a 16-year-old and whether considering his age, if Rangers were only entitled to training compensation. Villa fought hard to land the Scotland youth international, with his arrival garnering internal satisfaction among academy staff. In early January 2023, upon his 17th birthday, Wilson signed his first professional contract until June 30, 2025.
In the intervening period across Villa’s under-18s and under-21s, Wilson has scored 36 times in 53 appearances. At scholarship level especially, his record is outstanding — last season in the under-18s Premier League, Wilson averaged a goal every 64 minutes, netting 16 goals in 13 games. Villa’s academy has continued its upward trajectory in developing precocious talents after winning the FA Youth Cup in 2021 and the striker is one of a considerable number of players seen as having a high technical ceiling.
Ordinarily, such standout form may lead to first-team opportunities under manager Unai Emery. However, the uncertainty encompassing the 18-year-old’s future has formed the backdrop of his progress. Contrary to suggestions that Wilson’s contract situation was the reason behind his absence in Villa’s youthful squad for their Carabao Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers last month — where 11 academy graduates were included — he had been nursing an ankle injury.
Regardless, talks between the club and the player’s camp, according to sources who, like all in this piece, spoke anonymously to protect relationships, have been fraught and limited his chances to be part of Emery’s setup. With Wilson entering the final year of his contract, Villa have proposed a series of five-year contracts, all of which have been dismissed. Weekly salary offers had reached the five-figure mark and comfortably above, although Villa will not meet salary expectations that are more than double the best-paid player in the academy and more than the first contracts of some members in Villa’s senior squad.
However, the counterpoint is that Wilson’s market value — dictated by what comparable Premier League clubs are buying and offering youngsters of his calibre — is still thought to be more than Villa’s set of proposals. Natural goalscorers like Wilson are similar to left-footed central defenders in being at a premium for clubs, particularly for those recruiting at youth level.
From an ultra-critical viewpoint, the only blot on Emery’s copybook is that he has yet to integrate a homegrown talent and, consequently, evidence of a pathway for a teenager has not been experienced first-hand. Instead, there have been more cases of young players being sold for profit and sustainability (PSR) purposes. Omari Kellyman, who left for Chelsea in a £20million deal this summer, is viewed as the main example. If Wilson were to sign an extension, it would mean he would qualify as a homegrown talent next year and potentially be at risk of being sold to help with PSR.
He has not trained regularly with the first team, indicating he remains some distance away from Emery’s thoughts. Villa’s manager is not averse to trusting young players — it was among the summer’s chief objectives — but given the progress he has led, the gap to bridge for academy players has never been as daunting nor as vast. Naturally, owing to his age and unproven potential, doubts exist as to whether Wilson will be ready for the Premier League over the next few years, physically and technically.
Wilson is only 18, but a five-year contract would take him to an age where he is in the senior squad. Academy manager Mark Harrison has been engaged in contract discussions, but these negotiations cross into first-team matters, with senior figures such as president of football operations Monchi involved.
It has reached an impasse between all parties and contract talks have been shelved, affecting any fading hopes of Wilson being involved in Emery’s squad. Villa will not break its academy salary structure, while the player has several admirers in Europe prepared to provide a first-team pathway and a wage of more than £20,000 a week.
The forward can sign a pre-contract with overseas teams from January onwards and those who have achieved Category 1 academy status would need to pay Villa €270,000 in compensation. This is due to Wilson being at Villa for three years, equating to €90,000 per annum. There is no shortage of suitors and, presently, the only way Wilson commits to his long-term future is through the remote possibility he agrees to Villa’s proposed conditions, which avoids breaking the wage policy. The plain likelihood is Wilson departs.
The youth market is competitive and increasingly lucrative in transfer fees and contracts. This has created a complex debate and, as is the case between Villa and Wilson, a stand-off in a club willing to stand firm on their salary structure and a player who wants to be rewarded with first-team opportunities and a wage they perceive to be their market value.
(Top photo: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
