Aston Villa: 16-year-old Sam Proctor justifies six-figure fee with place on bench v Brentford

Sam Proctor, a teenager, made his Premier League debut for Aston Villa against Brentford on December 17 by being named on the bench. This was his first time playing for a senior team under Unai Emery.

Proctor, who is barely 16 years old, paid £100,000 to join Villa from Peterborough in 2021—the highest amount permitted for a 13-year-old at the time. When he gets a professional contract, the club will also have to pay Posh an additional £50,000. [Transcript, Peterborough]

The goalkeeper, who was an England Under-14 international when he came to Villa Park, has since advanced through the ranks, making his debut for the Under-18 team at the age of just 16.

The earliest age at which a player can sign professional terms is 17, which Proctor has not yet reached and therefore does not qualify, but having appeared in a first-team squad for the first time, it looks as though there are high hopes for his development at Aston Villa.

Unai Emery has not been reluctant to trust young players, with youngsters Filip Marschall and Tommi O’Reilly making their senior debuts in the Europa Conference League clash with Zrinjski on 14 December.

So far this season, Proctor has made six appearances for Villa’s Under-18 side and one for the Under-21s in the Premier League 2, stepping up in the absence of those above him. [Transfermarkt]

Being able to play Premier League football at the age of sixteen is a tremendous accomplishment for the young player, and the fact that Emery has utilized him extensively throughout Villa’s development system demonstrates how highly the academy coaches and now Emery value him.

Being benched for a Premier League game at the age of sixteen is no small accomplishment, and the team’s confidence in Proctor’s talent will help to explain why they paid the highest price for him when he was just thirteen.

He is in a position where his development can flourish, and the club’s belief in him will encourage him to keep going in the upcoming months.

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