WITH Villa now a competitive European team under Unai Emery, it has proved difficult for the club’s academy players to break into the squad.
After two loan moves at Bristol Rovers, 22-year-old Lamare Bogarde is the sole player to successfully transition from the youth set-up to the first-team, playing 43 matches in the last two seasons.
Another is now emerging, though, in George Hemmings.
At 18 years and ten months old, Hemmings is the youngest player to be given a start by Emery since he took over three years ago.
Although Villa had already secured automatic qualification to the Europa League knockout rounds by mathematically guaranteeing top eight in the league phase, they still required a win against RB Salzburg last night to finish in the top two, which would have given them three home second-legs on their way to a potential final.
Being entrusted to start a game of this nature shows a lot about the faith Villa’s coaching staff has in a player.
Villa’s midfield typically relies on press-resistant players, who are able to compete physically.
When teams defend man-to-man against Villa, Emery welcomes it due to these said traits.
In the 45 minutes Hemmings played, he won four duels, the most of any players on the pitch, showing he is in possession of an attribute that is highly valued by his manager.
Despite his youth, Hemmings already holds the stature of a Premier League midfielder, standing at 5’ 10”, allowing him to battle amicably and drive forward with pace and power.
Under-21 teammate, TJ Carroll, said: “George is a very talented player, humble and hard-working.
“He’s not fazed by any occasion.”
Hemmings officially joined Villa in January 2024 from fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who were reluctant to let him leave, according to reports.
After excelling in Villa’s under-18s, Hemmings featured heavily for the under-21s last season in a campaign which saw them reach the knockout rounds in the UEFA Youth League.
The summer of 2025 gave the youngster his first taste of senior football.
He was introduced at half-time in Villa’s first two pre-season friendlies against Walsall and Hansa Rostock, before playing the last half an hour against Europa League outfit AS Roma and starting away at Marseille.
The game in France seemed like an important evening in Hemmings’ progression.
He played 81 minutes at a capacity crowd at Stade Veledrome, against a Marseille team of established internationals like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adrien Rabiot, but handled himself expertly, handling the ball under pressure and putting himself about physically.
Hemmings made his Premier League debut and professional debut on December 30th away at league leaders Arsenal and made his Villa Park outing and second appearance two-and-a-half weeks later against Everton.
He is yet to misplace any of his 17 passes attempted in the league.
He was later entrusted to help Villa over the line in Istanbul against Fenerbahce a week ago for his European debut, as the team set themselves up for last night’s league phase finale, where Hemmings eventually made his first ever professional start.
Prior to the game, Emery said: “We have George Hemmings, he’s training with us, knowing, tactically everything we need. He has huge potential and maybe it’s a moment he can help us.”
Hemmings was taken off at half-time with Villa 1-0 down, finding it difficult to progress out of their own half.
The 18-year-old certainly wasn’t helped by those around him, with experienced centre-backs Tyrone Mings and Victor Lindelof often suffocated by the opposition press, playing Hemmings into trouble on countless occasions.
Fellow academy players Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba and Kadan Young came on in the second-half, eventually combining for the winner in the 87th minute.
Villa’s midfield injury-crisis, which sees Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans sidelined for a lengthy period, will likely see Hemmings given more opportunities to learn and play.
Amadou Onana, Lamare Bogarde remain options in the middle, alongside Douglas Luiz, who rejoined the club on Wednesday and his set to make his second debut on Sunday against Brentford.
Ross Barkley is set to be back in training today, having been unavailable since November.
Avoiding defeat on Sunday will see Villa climb to second in the, pending Manchester City’s results later in the evening.
