Rory Wilson
{{Short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Rory Wilson
|image =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|1|5|df=y}}
|birth_place = Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland
|height =
|currentclub = Aston Villa
|position = Forward
|youthyears1 = 2014–2022
|youthclubs1 = Rangers
|youthyears2 = 2022–
|youthclubs2 = Aston Villa
|years1 = 2022 |clubs1 = Rangers B ({{Tooltip|res.|Reserve team}}) |caps1 = 1 |goals1 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2021–2023
|nationalteam1 = Scotland U17
|nationalcaps1 = 13
|nationalgoals1 = 14
|nationalyears2 = 2023–
|nationalteam2 = Scotland U19
|nationalcaps2 = 10
|nationalgoals2 = 3
|nationalyears3 = 2022–
|nationalteam3 = Scotland U21
|nationalcaps3 = 2
|nationalgoals3 = 0
|club-update = 10:44, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 10:44, 16 July 2024 (UTC)
}}
Rory Wilson (born 5 January 2006) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Aston Villa. Wilson has featured for Villa's U18 and U21 sides since joining the Birmingham club from the Rangers Academy in the summer of 2022.
Club career
=Early life and Rangers=
Born in Girvan, Wilson joined the academy of Scottish side Rangers at the age of eight.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/our-preference-rory-wilson-exits-rangers-for-aston-villa-as-ibrox-club-comments-on-transfer-3756090|title='Our preference': Rory Wilson exits Rangers for Aston Villa as Ibrox club comments on transfer|first=Mark|last=Atkinson|date=4 July 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=scotsman.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/20221040.aston-villa-new-boy-rory-wilson-branded-best-striker-age-europe-350-000-rangers-transfer/|title=Aston Villa new boy Rory Wilson branded 'best striker at his age in Europe' after £350,000 Rangers transfer|first=Matthew|last=Lindsay|date=19 June 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=glasgowtimes.co.uk}} He progressed well through the academy, scoring 49 goals in the 2021–22 season and being called up to the 'B' team at the age of fifteen. He made one substitute appearance for the B team in the 2021–22 season, in a 2–0 Lowland Football League loss to East Stirlingshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/match-report-rangers-0-2-east-stirlingshire/7dh2BmUjSIYKozw7gIQUh3|title=Match Report: Rangers 0–2 East Stirlingshire|date=12 February 2022|accessdate=10 March 2023|website=rangers.co.uk}}
=Aston Villa=
In June 2022, it was reported that English side Aston Villa were interested in signing Wilson.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-rory-wilson-rangers-top-27223494|title=Who is Rory Wilson? Rangers top striking prospect at the centre of FIFA dispute with Aston Villa in focus|first=Mark|last=Pirie|date=13 June 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=dailyrecord.co.uk}} As he was contracted to Rangers until December 2022, the Ibrox club demanded a fee for the transfer.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/3362234/2022/06/14/explained-aston-villa-rangers-and-a-row-over-the-best-young-scottish-talent/|title=Explained: Aston Villa, Rangers and a row over the best young Scottish talent|first1=Jordan|last1=Campbell|first2=Gregg|last2=Evans|date=14 June 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=theathletic.com}} {{subscription required}} However, Aston Villa claimed that, as Wilson had not signed a professional deal with Rangers, and was only contracted on amateur terms, he was free to sign with them for a low training compensation fee.
Wilson had signed an amateur contract with Rangers in December 2019; a rolling, three-year deal that would have fallen under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA had he decided to move to a fellow Scottish club. However, as a move to Aston Villa was classified as an international transfer, international governing body FIFA's rules supersede those of national football associations. As the two clubs valuations for Wilson differed, the transfer fee would have been decided by FIFA.{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/2022/06/15/fifa-could-rule-on-aston-villa-swoop-for-rangers-wonderkid-rory-wilson/|title=Fifa could rule on Aston Villa swoop for Rangers wonderkid Rory Wilson|first=Matt|last=Maher|date=15 June 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=shropshirestar.com}}
After negotiations between the two clubs resumed, a reported deal worth a minimum of £350,000 was agreed, and Wilson joined Aston Villa in July 2022.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/3489954/2022/06/17/aston-villa-move-closer-to-signing-rangers-striker-rory-wilson/|title=Aston Villa move closer to signing Rangers striker Rory Wilson|first=Jordan|last=Campbell|date=17 June 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=theathletic.com}} {{subscription required}}{{cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/04/villa-confirm-wilson-signing/|title=Villa confirm Wilson signing|date=4 July 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=avfc.co.uk}}
On 6 January 2023, Wilson's 17th birthday, he signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=6 January 2023 |title=Rory Wilson signs pro contract with Villa |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/06/wilson-signs-pro-contract-with-villa/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}} After joining Villa, Wilson's goal scoring form continued. For the Villa Academy, Wilson netted hat-tricks against Liverpool and Brentford in the U17 Premier League Cup and FA Youth Cup respectively.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} On 7 April 2025, Wilson signed a contract extension with Aston Villa.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=Rory Wilson signs new contract |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/april/07/rory-wilson-signs-new-contract/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}}
International career
Wilson has represented Scotland at youth international level.{{WorldFootball.net|rory-wilson}} In September 2022, Wilson stated he was "shocked" after being called up to the Scotland under-21 side.{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rory-wilson-aston-villa-scotland-25102235|title=Aston Villa starlet admits 'shock' at international honour|first=Bruna|last=Reis|date=25 September 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=birminghammail.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/rory-wilson-savours-post-rangers-25101924|title=Rory Wilson savours post-Rangers joy as Aston Villa starlet 'shocked' by international honour|first=Ben|last=Banks|date=25 September 2022|accessdate=14 November 2022|website=glasgowlive.co.uk}}
Wilson debuted against Wales for the Under-17 side in 2021 and has since represented Scotland Under-17's in numerous friendly matches, European Championship qualifiers and European Championship finals matches. He has scored more goals than has made appearances for the Under-17s and has since made 2 appearances for the Under-21's.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|16 July 2024}}{{Soccerway|rory-wilson/789624}}
| 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|FA Cup !colspan=2|EFL Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Rangers B
|1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Aston Villa U21
|colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Aston Villa U21
|colspan=3|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!1||0||0||0||0||0||3||0||4||0 |
;Notes
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=237698&lid=13 Under-17 profile] at the Scottish Football Association
- [https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=237698&lid=5 Under-21 profile] at the Scottish Football Association
- [https://www.avfc.co.uk/players/u18/rorywilson/ Profile] at Aston Villa
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Rory}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers
Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Lowland Football League players
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players