Aston Villa have announced the appointment of Mark Harrison as their new academy manager.

Harrison moves to Villa Park from West Bromwich Albion

Villa CEO Christian Purslow said: “Aston Villa is a football club steeped in a rich tradition of producing its own players. Mark's appointment is another cornerstone of the process and journey that we set out upon last summer.

“As a football club, we want a clear pathway right through the academy to the first-team with outstanding recruitment and development. I have every confidence that Mark, working closely with Dean Smith and Jesus Garcia Pitarch, will build an excellent academy that will be able to nurture the next generation of stars to entertain the crowds at Villa Park."