Aston Villa secure top defensive talent beating Chelsea and Sevilla

Aston Villa are making significant strides in the transfer market with the imminent signing of Ethan Amundsen-Day, a highly-rated 19-year-old Norwegian centre-back.

Reports from Danish publication Tipsbladet and Norway's Nettavisen indicate that the young defender is set to join the Villans on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract with Danish club FC Copenhagen.

Born in Leeds to an English father and a Norwegian mother, Amundsen-Day holds British citizenship, which will streamline his work permit process. Despite never featuring for Copenhagen's first team, the Norwegian Under-18 international has already showcased his potential at the academy level, amassing an impressive 68 appearances and 4,568 minutes across various youth competitions, including the Under-19 Boys League in Denmark and the UEFA Youth League.

Amundsen-Day's talents have attracted interest from numerous Premier League clubs, such as Chelsea, Brentford, Everton, and Wolves, as well as foreign sides like Sevilla, Lens, Atalanta, and Monza.

However, Aston Villa have seemingly won the race for his signature, with the deal expected to be officially announced on or around 30 June, when Amundsen-Day's contract with FC Copenhagen formally expires.

The signing of Amundsen-Day aligns perfectly with manager Unai Emery's long-term vision for the club, which emphasises the development of young talent. The Spaniard recognises the importance of investing in promising prospects to ensure a bright and sustainable future for the Midlands club.

Mikkel Kohler, head of recruitment at Amundsen-Day's former club Fredrikstad FK, praised the defender's abilities, highlighting his physical strength, impressive left foot, and natural leadership qualities. Kohler expressed confidence in Amundsen-Day's potential to succeed at the highest level, stating,

"In our eyes, Ethan is a talent at an international level, and he has the potential to go all the way with us if together we take the right steps."

The imminent signing of Amundsen-Day demonstrates the club's ambition to strengthen their squad and compete at the highest level. While the young Norwegian is expected to initially join Villa's Under-21 setup under the guidance of Josep Gombau, his progress will be closely monitored, with the hope that he can eventually make a significant impact on the first team.

Interestingly, Amundsen-Day shares a unique connection with Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, as both players were born in Leeds but grew up in Norway. While Haaland's first club was Bryne, Amundsen-Day began his footballing journey with Fredrikstad FK in the Norwegian top tier, the Eliteserien.

The signing of Ethan Amundsen-Day represents a shrewd piece of business for Aston Villa, securing a highly-rated defensive prospect who has the potential to develop into a key player for the club in the years to come.

As the Villans continue to build for the future, the addition of Amundsen-Day is a clear indication of the club's commitment to nurturing young talent and competing at the highest level in the Premier League.