Aston Villa have confirmed twelve academy departures, with eight free transfers and four scholars released as the Premier League published the annual list.
- Eight players depart on free transfers when their contracts expire on 30 June 2026
- A further four scholars have been released by the club
- The departures are standard end-of-season academy movement ahead of a new Champions League campaign
The released list. All twelve confirmed departures
Every Premier League club publishes its released and free transfer list at the conclusion of each season. This summer’s list confirms twelve departures from Aston Villa’s academy structure a standard volume of movement for a club competing across four competitions next season and managing a carefully balanced development pathway.
The eight players departing as free transfers as their contracts expiring on 30 June are: Edwards I-Lani Hollingshead, Ronnie Katsukunya, Thierry Alfred Farai Lott, Max Matthew Moreland, Calum Francis Pavey, Charlie James Simpson, Ewan Mark Smith and Kerr David Briscoe.
The four scholars who have been released are: Elijah Brandon Green, Jacob Raymond Ramsey, Cole Paul Wilson and Junior John.
The name that will attract most attention from the wider Aston Villa fanbase is Jacob Ramsey, a player whose surname carries enormous emotional resonance at Villa Park. The midfielder is no relation to Jacob Ramsey, the senior first-team player sold to Arsenal, but the shared surname will ensure the departure generates discussion among supporters.
The broader context. Academy movement and Champions League planning
Academy departures of this scale are an entirely standard feature of every summer transfer window for a Premier League club. Players at the scholar and under-21 level are regularly released as the club assesses its development pipeline and identifies the specific talents most likely to contribute to the first-team pathway.
Villa’s academy has been responsible for generating significant commercial value across the club’s recent history, contributing to the £190m-plus in academy-derived transfer income that has helped fund Emery’s transformation of the first team. Departures at this level represent the natural cycle of that development system rather than any significant recruitment concern.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Standard summer academy movement, twelve departures, twelve new opportunities for the players involved. The focus at Villa Park remains firmly on the Champions League campaign ahead.
