League One side secures Aston Villa defender for the season

Shrewsbury Town have signed Aston Villa's promising centre-back, Josh Feeney, on loan for the upcoming season. This acquisition sees the 19-year-old defender reuniting with his former academy teammate, Tommi O'Reilly, at New Meadow, as the League One club aims to bolster its squad ahead of the new campaign.

Josh Feeney, who initially joined Aston Villa from Fleetwood Town in July 2021, quickly made a name for himself within Villa's youth ranks. His impressive performances earned him a professional contract last summer. Feeney has also represented England at various youth levels, even captaining the under-16 team, showcasing his leadership and defensive prowess.

Last season, Feeney and O'Reilly ventured to Spain, spending the latter half of the campaign on loan at Real Union, a third-tier Spanish club. During this stint, Feeney made eight appearances, starting in five matches, while O'Reilly's time was cut short due to an injury after just two appearances. This experience was invaluable, providing both players with their first taste of senior football.

Before his move to Shrewsbury, Feeney was involved in Aston Villa's pre-season tour of the USA. Although he was an unused substitute in the 1-0 defeat against Club América, he did play the first half of Villa's friendly against Walsall, lining up alongside Premier League regulars like Matty Cash and Pau Torres. This exposure to high-level football has undoubtedly prepared him for the challenges ahead at Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury Town's manager, Paul Hurst, expressed his excitement about the signing, emphasising the strong relationship between the two clubs. Hurst acknowledged the efforts of Adam Henshall, Villa's head of emerging talent and former head of recruitment at Shrewsbury, in facilitating the deal. Hurst remarked,

"Josh is highly rated, comfortable on the ball, and has represented England at under-16, 17, and 18 levels. We are looking forward to working with him and getting him into the team over the next few weeks."

Feeney's arrival marks Shrewsbury's 11th signing of the summer and their second loan acquisition from Aston Villa, following the addition of midfielder Tommi O'Reilly. His presence is expected to significantly bolster the squad as they prepare for the forthcoming League One season.

Shrewsbury Town is set to kick off their campaign with an away match against Stevenage this weekend. The team narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 19th, just four points above the drop zone. With Feeney's defensive capabilities, Shrewsbury is hopeful for a more successful season this time around.