Promising West Brom youngster Jamaldeen Jimoh is set to complete a move to Aston Villa this summer, after the two clubs agreed a deal. Jimoh, 16, will become the latest player to be plucked from the Albion academy and make their way to Bodymoor Heath in recent years.
The teenager has five caps for England under 17s since his first call up last summer, and he has been tracked by a number of top Premier League clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Albion had a pre-contract agreement in place with Jimoh for him to become a first-year scholar, but Villa have moved to bring him across the West Midlands.
In doing so, they put together a more lucrative package which Tottenham weren't willing to match, and central midfielder Jimoh is now set for Villa ahead of the 2023-24 season, where he'll begin a scholarship. It is understood that, with the alternative being a tribunal, an agreement has been struck between Villa and Albion, which will be worth around £1m to the latter. Albion will also receive 10% of any fee if Villa were to sell Jimoh on in the years to come.
The list of players who have trodden the path from the Albion academy to the Villa academy in the last few years continues to grow; Jimoh follows the likes of Timothy Iroegbunam, who spent last year on loan at Queens Park Rangers, Finn Azaz, Finley Thorndike - who is now with Birmingham City - Triston Rowe and Luka Lynch in completing that switch.
READ: Villa notebook: Monchi meeting, Heck's role after Purslow, Tielemans response
READ: Aston Villa handed transfer boost as club chiefs issue statements
Albion's academy has continued to be cherry picked by clubs beyond Villa in that period, too; Lino Sousa left to join Arsenal and has been involved in their Premier League 2 set-up, while both Kiano Dyer and Leo Cardoso left to join Chelsea last year.
It's also rumoured that Rico Richards is being considered by Villa. The fleet-footed playmaker was released at the end of his contract by Albion at the end of this past season along with Quevin Castro, Ramello Mitchell and Cianole Nguepissi, among others. He was handed his league debut by Carlos Corberan as a late substitute in the 2-0 defeat at Hull City in March, while he'd also appeared under Valerien Ismael in the 6-0 EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal.
What do you make of the news? Let us know in the comments section.
READ MORE: Ian Pearce reveals West Brom summer transfer plans after landing key new role
READ MORE: West Brom announce two more pre-season friendlies away from home
