Rising Aston Villa star Harvey Knibbs has agreed his first professional contract with the club.
The versatile forward took to his personal Twitter account on Saturday evening to express his delight while a statement on Villa’s official website reported that he had signed a two-year deal.
Knibbs, 18, said on Twitter it was a “dream come true” to have penned terms that will keep him at Villa Park until 2019.
Dream come true to have signed my first professional contract at @avfcofficial proud day for me and my family! ????? pic.twitter.com/3kNlArOMFp
— Harvey Knibbs (@HarveyKnibbs) July 1, 2017
Knibbs, who is predominantly a left-winger, was a second-year scholar in the Villa youth set-up last season as he featured predominantly for their Under-18s side although he did make the step up play for the club’s Under-23s on one occasion.
The teenager had a 15-minute run-out as a late substitute in Villa’s 2-1 Premier League 2 win over Wolves in March.
In total, Knibbs scored 11 goals in 27 appearances across all competitions for the Under-18 side during the 2016/17 season, including four goals in two FA Youth Cup encounters.
His performance of the season easily came when he plundered four goals in the 7-0 thrashing of Broxbourne Borough in the FA Youth Cup fifth round.
Villa have yet to make any senior signings this summer although owner Tony Xia insisted on Twitter on Saturday afternoon that the club were working behind the scenes on making good-value additions to Steve Bruce’s squad.