Brad Young (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Brad Young
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Bradley Jamie Ethan Young{{Cite web |date=20 October 2020 |title=2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed |url=http://www.premierleague.com/news/1869523 |access-date=8 January 2021 |publisher=Premier League}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|1|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Solihull, England
| height = {{convert|1.76|m|order=flip}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/players/u18/bradyoung|title=Brad Young |access-date=8 January 2021 |website=www.avfc.co.uk |publisher=Aston Villa F.C.}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Al-Orobah
| clubnumber = 9
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = West Bromwich Albion
| youthyears2 = 2017–2021
| youthclubs2 = Aston Villa
| years1 = 2021–2023
| clubs1 = Aston Villa
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = → Carlisle United (loan)
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022–2023
| clubs3 = → Ayr United (loan)
| caps3 = 11
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2023–2024
| clubs4 = The New Saints
| caps4 = 25
| goals4 = 22
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = Al-Orobah
| caps5 = 16
| goals5 = 2
| club-update = 22 April 2025
}}
Bradley Jamie Ethan Young (born 6 January 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah.
Young is a product of the Aston Villa Academy, being part of the side that won the 2020-21 FA Youth Cup, he also spent time with West Bromwich Albion as a junior. He made one senior appearance for Aston Villa in the FA Cup in 2021 and played senior football on loan at Carlisle United and Ayr United before moving to The New Saints in 2023.
Career
=Aston Villa=
Having been on the books of West Bromwich Albion before being released at age 12, he joined Aston Villa after a spell playing MJPL football for FDC academy and became a regular at U18 and then U23 level.{{cite news |title=How Aston Villa built a youth team to 'win it all' |url=https://theathletic.com/2610557/2021/05/25/how-aston-villa-built-a-youth-team-to-win-it-all/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=16 August 2021 |last1=Evans |first1=Gregg }} He made his senior debut as a substitute in a 4–1 FA Cup defeat to Liverpool on 8 January 2021.{{Cite web |last=Chowdhury |first=Saj |date=8 January 2021 |title=Liverpool overcome inexperienced Villa |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55574199 |access-date=8 January 2021 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Young was a part of the Aston Villa team that won the 2020–21 FA Youth Cup - scoring a penalty in the 2–1 final victory over Liverpool U18s on 24 May 2021, he scored six goals across the tournament, only bettered by his teammate Carney Chukwuemeka's seven.{{Cite web |title=Table of top scorers FA Youth Cup 2021 |url=https://www.besoccer.com/competition/rankings/fa_youth_cup/2021/top-scorers |access-date=25 September 2023 |website=www.besoccer.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Preece|first=Ashley|date=24 May 2021|title=Aston Villa vs Liverpool FA Youth Cup final LIVE updates|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/aston-villa-youth-cup-liverpool-20666405|access-date=24 May 2021|website=BirminghamLive|language=en}} On 7 July 2021, he was one of several young players who signed a new contract with Aston Villa.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=7 July 2021|title=Young Lions sign new contracts|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/Young-Lions-sign-new-contracts/|url-status=live|access-date=7 July 2021|publisher=Aston Villa F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707114602/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/Young-Lions-sign-new-contracts/ |archive-date=7 July 2021 }}
On 16 August 2021, Young joined League Two team Carlisle United on a season-long loan.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=16 August 2021|title=Brad Young joins Carlisle United on loan|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Brad-Young-joins-Carlisle-United-on-loan/|url-status=live|access-date=16 August 2021|publisher=Aston Villa F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816125727/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Brad-Young-joins-Carlisle-United-on-loan/ |archive-date=16 August 2021 }} He made his football league debut the following day, as a substitute in a goalless draw against Port Vale.{{Cite news|last=Colman|first=Jon|date=17 August 2021|title=Carlisle United extend unbeaten start with goalless draw at Port Vale|work=The Cumberland News|url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19519869.carlisle-united-extend-unbeaten-start-goalless-draw-port-vale/|access-date=17 August 2021}} On 28 September 2021, he scored his first goals for Carlisle United - scoring twice in a 2–0 victory over Everton U21 in the EFL Trophy.{{Cite web|last=Colman|first=Jon|date=28 September 2021|title=Carlisle United 2 Everton U21s 0: Aston Villa loanee Brad Young on target twice in front of 875 crowd in Papa John's Trophy|url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/19611369.carlisle-united-2-everton-u21s-0-aston-villa-loanee-brad-young-target-twice-front-875-crowd-papa-johns-trophy/|url-status=live|access-date=28 September 2021|website=News and Star|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928214656/https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/19611369.carlisle-united-2-everton-u21s-0-aston-villa-loanee-brad-young-target-twice-front-875-crowd-papa-johns-trophy/ |archive-date=28 September 2021 }} Young returned to Aston Villa from his loan early on 4 January 2022, after the two clubs mutually agreed that Young would not be guaranteed enough playing time in the upcoming months.{{Cite web|title=LOAN: Forward returns to Villa|url=https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2022/january/loan-young-forward-returns-to-villa/|access-date=4 January 2022|publisher=Carlisle United F.C.|language=en-gb}}
On 1 September 2022, Young joined Scottish Championship club Ayr United on a season-long loan.{{Cite web |date=1 September 2022 |title=Brad Young Joins on Loan |url=https://ayrunitedfc.co.uk/brad-young-joins-on-loan |access-date=1 September 2022 |publisher=Ayr United F.C. |language=en-gb}} Young scored his first professional league goal on 17 September, in a 3–2 defeat to Raith Rovers.{{Cite news |date=17 September 2022 |title=Brown late winner gives Raith win over Ayr United |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62859922 |access-date=16 November 2022}} On 17 January 2023, Young's loan was cut short and he returned to Aston Villa.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=17 January 2023 |title=Indiana Vassilev completes MLS move |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/17/vassilev-completes-mls-move/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |publisher=Aston Villa F.C.}} On 16 June 2023, Young was released by Aston Villa.{{Cite web |date=16 June 2023 |title=Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3537139 |access-date=16 June 2023 |publisher=Premier League |language=en}}
=The New Saints=
In July 2023, Young had a trial with EFL League One club Exeter City, however the club opted against offering him a contract.{{Cite web |date=7 July 2023 |title=Match Report: Tiverton Town 0 City 1 |url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/tivvy-away/ |access-date=7 July 2023 |publisher=Exeter City F.C. |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mail |first=Harry |date=13 July 2023 |title=Exeter City decide not to sign departed Coventry City and Aston Villa pair after trials |url=https://the72.co.uk/2023/07/13/exeter-city-decide-not-to-sign-departed-coventry-city-and-aston-villa-pair-after-trials/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=The72 |language=en-GB}} He instead signed for Cymru Premier club The New Saints on 2 September 2023.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Sam |date=2 September 2023 |title=More deadline day business, as Brad Young puts pen to paper on a deal with The New Saints |url=https://www.tnsfc.co.uk/2023/09/02/more-deadline-day-business-as-brad-young-puts-pen-to-paper-on-a-deal-with-the-new-saints/ |access-date=3 September 2023 |publisher=The New Saints F.C. |language=en-GB}} On 8 September, Young made his debut for the club, coming off the bench to score in a 3–0 win over Hibernian U21 in the Scottish Challenge Cup.{{Cite web |date=8 September 2023 |title=Hibernian U21 0 The New Saints FC 3 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/hibernian-u21-vs-the-new-saints-fc/teams/498584 |access-date=19 September 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}} He made his Welsh league debut on 13 September, in a 0–0 draw against Bala Town.{{Cite web |title=Bala Town 0-0 The New Saints (13 Sep, 2023) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/671736 |access-date=19 September 2023 |website=ESPN |language=en}} On 22 September, Young scored his first league goals for the club, scoring twice in a 5–1 away victory over Cardiff Metropolitan University.{{Cite web |title=Cardiff MU vs. The New Saints - 22 September 2023 - Soccerway |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/22/wales/premier-league/uwic-cardiff/the-new-saints-fc/4083786/ |access-date=3 October 2023 |website=uk.soccerway.com}}
On 21 October 2023, Young scored his first career hattrick in a 6–2 league victory over Barry Town United, meaning he had scored 9 goals in his first 10 games in Welsh football.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=George |date=23 October 2023 |title=More to come from TNS striker Brad Young insists Craig Harrison |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/the-new-saints/2023/10/23/more-to-come-from-tns-striker-brad-young-insists-craig-harrison/ |access-date=23 October 2023 |work=Shropshire Star |language=en}} On 20 January 2024, Young won the first senior trophy of his career, scoring a goal in a 5–1 victory over Swansea City U21s in the final of the Welsh League Cup.{{Cite news |date=20 January 2024 |title=TNS clinch cup final victory over Swansea U21s |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68044495 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} On 21 April 2024, The New Saints completed an unbeaten season to win the Cymru Premier.{{Cite news |date=22 April 2024 |title=The New Saints complete unbeaten Welsh league season with 30 wins, two draws |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/the-new-saints-complete-unbeaten-welsh-league-season-with-30-wins-two-draws |access-date=21 April 2024 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} Young won the Cymru Premier Golden Boot despite joining the league one month into the season.{{Cite web |title=Cymru Premier Top Scorers |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/welsh-premier-league/top-scorers |access-date=21 April 2024 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} On 9 June, Young was awarded the Cymru Premier Young Player of the Season award.{{Cite web |date=9 June 2024 |title=Cymru Premier: Sion Bradley wins player of the season award |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cj77rgp3dldo |access-date=26 June 2024 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
On 9 July 2024, Young scored two goals on his European debut, in a 3–0 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round first leg victory over Dečić.{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=The New Saints vs Dečić: UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Qualif. 1 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2040968--the-new-saints-vs-decic/ |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=UEFA |language=en}}
=Al-Orobah=
On 2 September 2024, Young signed for newly-promoted Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah.{{cite tweet|number=1830574611345395745|title=Brad Young, Welcome to AL-Orobah stronghold 💪🏻💛💚|user=ALOROBAH_FC|author-link=Al-Orobah FC|date=2 September 2024|access-date=2 September 2024}} The fee of £190,000 plus potential future add-ons saw the record broken for the highest fee received by a Cymru Premier club.{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-youngster-set-saudi-29852574|title=Aston Villa youngster set for Saudi Pro League transfer for 'record fee'|publisher=Birmingham Mail|last=Chapman|first=Joseph|date=2 September 2024|access-date=2 September 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tnsfc.co.uk/2024/09/02/brad-young-completes-transfer-to-al-orobah-in-welsh-record-transfer-deal/|title=Brad Young completes transfer to Al-Orobah in Welsh record transfer deal|publisher=The New Saints F.C.|date=2 September 2024|access-date=2 September 2024}}{{Cite web |date=2 September 2024 |title=Brad Young: TNS striker makes Saudi Arabia move |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7037110jj8o |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} On 15 September 2024, Young made his debut for Al-Orobah as a substitute in a 3–3 draw against Al-Kholood.{{Cite web |title= Al Kholood vs. Al Orubah - 15 September 2024 - Soccerway|url=https://za.soccerway.com/matches/2024/09/15/saudi-arabia/pro-league/al-kholood/al-orubah/4436774/}} However, as of 6 January 2025 it was claimed by his former club that Al-Orobah had yet to pay the transfer fee.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c23vx38k4d0o New Saints contact Fifa over outstanding Young Saudi fee] BBC Sport. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025. On 18 March 2025, FIFA announced that Al-Orobah were subject to a transfer ban after failing to pay the transfer fee owed, nor any of the interest that was owed due to them missing instalments.{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Joseph |date=18 March 2025 |title=FIFA slap transfer ban on club that signed former Villa player |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fifa-impose-ban-after-club-31227127 |access-date=18 March 2025 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=18 March 2025 |title=A further update regarding the transfer of Brad Young to Saudi Pro League side Al-Orobah |url=https://www.tnsfc.co.uk/2025/03/18/a-further-update-regarding-the-transfer-of-brad-young-to-saudi-pro-league-side-al-orobah/ |access-date=18 March 2025 |publisher=The New Saints F.C. |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Young was seriously injured in June 2020, at the age of 17, after being stabbed three times during a mugging in Elmdon Park, Solihull.{{Cite web|date=2 June 2020|title=Promising Aston Villa player stabbed in Solihull park|url=https://scorers.org/promising-aston-villa-player-stabbed-in-solihull-park/|url-status=live|access-date=24 May 2021|website=Scorers|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129064247/https://scorers.org/promising-aston-villa-player-stabbed-in-solihull-park/ |archive-date=29 November 2020 }} Young was told that doctors were unsure he would survive the stabbing and later overheard doctors discussing the possibility that he would have to use a colostomy bag. He made a full recovery and was able to play again for the Aston Villa academy the following season.{{Cite web|last=Preece|first=Ashley|date=9 January 2021|title=Louie Barry and his teenage teammates could save Aston Villa millions|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-liverpool-louie-barry-19592832|access-date=24 May 2021|website=BirminghamLive|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wathan |first=Chris |date=26 April 2024 |title=Brad Young: Golden Boot who almost lost his life in knife attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c3gjr9kvzrvo |access-date=16 May 2024 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 19 April 2025}}{{soccerway|brad-young/592861|access-date=8 January 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup, Welsh Cup, King's Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Scottish League Cup, Welsh League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Aston Villa
|rowspan="3"|Premier League |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1{{Efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Carlisle United (loan)
|14 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 4{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 2 | 20 | 3 | ||
| Ayr United (loan)
|11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1{{efn|name=SCC|Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup}} | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="3"|The New Saints
|rowspan="2"|Cymru Premier |25 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 5{{efn|name=SCC}} | 5 | 35 | 29 | ||
| 2024–25
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7{{efn|Four appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, one appearance in UEFA Conference League}} | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!25 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 42 | 32 | |
| Al-Orobah
|16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 2 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!66 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 97 | 39 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Aston Villa U18
The New Saints
Individual
- Cymru Premier Player of the Month: January 2024{{Cite web |date=13 February 2024 |title=January's Player and Manager of the Month winners |url=https://www.cymrufootball.wales/news/januarys-player-and-manager-month-winners-2/ |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=Cymru Football}}
- Cymru Premier Golden Boot: 2023–24
- Cymru Premier Young Player of the Season: 2023–24
References
{{reflist}}
{{Al-Orobah F.C. squad}}
{{Cymru Premier Golden Boot}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Brad}}
Category:Footballers from Solihull
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:English victims of crime
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Ayr United F.C. players
Category:The New Saints F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Cymru Premier players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia