Kadan Young

Last updated
Kadan Young
Personal information
Full name Kadan Christophe Young [1]
Date of birth (2006-01-19) 19 January 2006 (age 20)
Place of birth Worcester, England [2]
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
Reading
(on loan from Aston Villa)
Youth career
Phoenix United
2018–2024 Aston Villa
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024– Aston Villa 0 (0)
2025Royal Antwerp (loan) 7 (0)
2026–Reading (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2021 England U16 3 (0)
2023 England U17 4 (1)
2024 England U18 2 (1)
2024– England U19 13 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 June 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 09:15, 21 June 2025 (UTC)

Kadan Christophe Young (born 19 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for League One club Reading, on loan from Premier League club Aston Villa.

Contents

Club career

Having started out with local club Phoenix United in Erdington, Young trialled with a host of professional sides before eventually joining Premier League side Aston Villa at under-13 level. [3] He went on to sign a scholarship deal with the club in July 2022, and during the mid-season break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he was a surprise inclusion in Aston Villa's squad for a warm-weather training camp in December of the same year. [4] Prior to the squad flying to Dubai for the training camp, he featured in a friendly against Cardiff City - his unofficial first team debut. [5] [6]

While on the tour, he continued to feature in friendlies, playing ten minutes at the end of a 2–2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion before being brought on as a half-time substitute for Arjan Raikhy against Chelsea. [4] Playing on the right wing, he impressed against Chelsea's full-back, Marc Cucurella, earning plaudits for his performance in a 1–0 win. [4] Following the conclusion of the warm-weather camp, he signed his first professional contract with the club in January 2023. [7] On 18 September 2024, Young signed a long-term contract extension with Aston Villa. [8]

On 24 September 2024, Young made his senior debut in a 2–1 away victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup. [9]

On 3 February 2025, Young signed for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp on loan until the end of the season. [10] Young made his Belgian Pro League debut on 15 February, in a 2–1 victory over Kortrijk. [11]

On 29 January 2026, Young made his European debut in the UEFA Europa League for Aston Villa, coming off the bench to assist Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba's winner in a 3–2 victory over Red Bull Salzburg. [12]

On 2 February 2026, Young signed for League One club Reading on loan until the end of the season. [13]

International career

Born in England, Young is of Jamaican descent and holds dual British and Jamaican citizenship. [14] He has represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level. [15] He was called up for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, and scored the fourth goal in England's 4–2 win over Switzerland to clinch qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. [16]

On 20 May 2024, Young was called up for the England U18 squad for two upcoming matches against Northern Ireland & Morocco. [17] He made a goalscoring debut in a 4–2 win over Northern Ireland at St. George's Park. [18] Young an unused substitute for the victory over Morocco which won the Tri-Nations Trophy for England. [19]

On 9 October 2024, Young made his U19 debut during a 2–1 defeat to Portugal in Marbella. [20]

Young was a member of England's squad at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. [21]

Career statistics

As of 29 January 2026 [22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cup [a] EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 2024–25 Premier League 0000200020
2025–26 Premier League0000001 [b] 010
Total000020100030
Royal Antwerp (loan) 2024–25 Belgian Pro League 700070
Reading (loan) 2025–26 EFL League One 000000
Career total7000201000100
  1. Includes EFL Cup
  2. Appearance in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Aston Villa U21s

England U18s

References

  1. "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". premierleague.com. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. Preece, Ashley (16 May 2023). "The 12 talented Aston Villa wonderkids to watch who can save Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens millions". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  3. Preece, Ashley (12 December 2022). "Mbappe style and thriving in front of 40,000 - The rapid rise of Kadan Young at Aston Villa". birminghammail.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Townley, John (12 December 2022). "What Kadan Young did to Chelsea's Marc Cucurella as 16-year-old impresses Unai Emery". birminghammail.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  5. "Young hungry for more after 'unbelievable experience'". avfc.co.uk. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. "Villa teenager enjoying time with first team". bbc.com. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  7. "Kadan Young signs pro contract with Villa". avfc.co.uk. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. "Kadan Young signs new contract". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  9. "Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Aston Villa". EFL. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  10. "Kadan Young links up with Royal Antwerp on loan". Aston Villa Football Club. 2025-02-03. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  11. "Het liep niet van een leien dakje: Antwerp zet verdienstelijk KV Kortrijk met heel wat moeite opzij". HLN (in Dutch). 15 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  12. Mashiter, Nick. "Aston Villa 3-2 Red Bull Salzburg: Hosts fight back from 2-0 down to win as Ollie Watkins forced off". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  13. "Reading Sign Kadan Young". www.readingfc.co.uk. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  14. "Profile Kadan Young, Aston Villa: Info, news, matches and statistics | BeSoccer".
  15. Kadan Young at WorldFootball.net
  16. Swoffer, Chris (30 May 2023). "England MU17s qualify for the U-17 World Cup with enthralling 4–2 victory over Switzerland". The Football Association. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  17. Veevers, Nicholas (20 May 2024). "England MU18s squad named for SGP games". The Football Association. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
  18. "Report: England MU18s 4-2 Northern Ireland". EnglandFootball.com. May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Academy quartet win Tri-Nations Trophy with England". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  20. Vassell, Zac (9 October 2024). "Report: England Under-19s 1–2 Portugal". England Football. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  21. Veevers, Nicholas (19 May 2025). "England MU19s squad named for UEFA U19 EURO Finals". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  22. "England - K. Young - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  23. "BSC: Aston Villa 9-0 Racing Club Warwick". Aston Villa Football Club. 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-05-16.